The altitude draw to the hypotenuse of a right triangle divides, the hypotenuse into 2 parts whose length are 4 and 16. What is the length of the altitude

Question

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Answer 1

the altitude to the hypotenuse is the MEAN PROPORTIONAL of the parts of the hypotenuse.

this is made clear if you draw and label the associated right triangle; the altitude creates two smaller similar triangles.

4/h = h/16  so h = square root of 64; h = 8.