Calculate height in a triangle

[ricloc]

I have a scalene right angle triangle, where the hypotenuse is 182cm. The height at the right angle is 10cms. If I pick a point on the hypotenuse at 88cms from the right angle and draw a line straight down, how do I calculate the measurement from that point on the hypotenuse
the hypotenuse to the base? File attached.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

I have a scalene right angle triangle, where the hypotenuse is 182cm. The height at the right angle is 10cms. If I pick a point on the hypotenuse at 88cms from the right angle and draw a line straight down, how do I calculate the measurement from that point on the hypotenuse
the hypotenuse to the base? File attached.

Some of us will not open a pdf file from an unknown source.

 

[lev888]

I have a scalene right angle triangle, where the hypotenuse is 182cm. The height at the right angle is 10cms. If I pick a point on the hypotenuse at 88cms from the right angle and draw a line straight down, how do I calculate the measurement from that point on the hypotenuse
the hypotenuse to the base? File attached.

Please draw all segments you are referring to. Label all vertices. Then restate the problem using the labels.

 

[jonah2.0]

I have a scalene right angle triangle, where the hypotenuse is 182cm. The height at the right angle is 10cms. If I pick a point on the hypotenuse at 88cms from the right angle and draw a line straight down, how do I calculate the measurement from that point on the hypotenuse
the hypotenuse to the base? File attached.

From your file, we have

Your description is somewhat vague.
Accordingly, we have:
A(${\displaystyle \sqrt{{182}^2-{10}^2}}$, 0)${\displaystyle \approx }$A(181.73, 0), B(0, 10), C(0, 0)
Interpretation 1:
This point you pick on the hypotenuse starts from point C(0, 0) and is part of a circle whose radius is 88 with center at C(0, 0).
You then have ${\displaystyle x^2+y^2={88}^2}$ and ${\displaystyle y-10=\frac{10-0}{0-\sqrt{{182}^2-{10}^2}}(x-0)}$

Interpretation 2:
This point you pick on the hypotenuse starts from point B(0, 10) and is part of a circle whose radius is 88 with center at B(0, 10).
Thus, you have ${\displaystyle x^2+{(y-10)}^2={88}^2}$ and ${\displaystyle y-10=\frac{10-0}{0-\sqrt{{182}^2-{10}^2}}(x-0)}$

For either interpretation, you should be able to calculate the height of your desired triangle if you know how to handle those system of equations.

 

[ricloc]

Scalene rt angle triangle. As per attached diagram, I am trying to find the measurement of C - D.

 

[ricloc]

Please draw all segments you are referring to. Label all vertices. Then restate the problem using the labels.

 

[lev888]

I've posted another drawing in a new post which may help. Attached again here.

Since CD is normal to BE triangles ABE and CDE are similar. What does this tell you about their sides?

 

[lev888]

Scalene rt angle triangle. As per attached diagram, I am trying to find the measurement of C - D.

Any reason you need a duplicate thread?

 

[jonah2.0]

Beer soaked suggestion follows.

Scalene rt angle triangle. As per attached diagram, I am trying to find the measurement of C - D.

Ambiguity cleared up.
Interpretation 2 it is then.
Suggest you follow lev888's hint.

 

[ricloc]

Since CD is normal to BE triangles ABE and CDE are similar. What does this tell you about their sides?

I'm pretty useless in Maths! So I don't know the answer to your Question. Is it possible to just give me the answer? PLEASE!!!

 

[lev888]

I'm pretty useless in Maths! So I don't know the answer to your Question. Is it possible to just give me the answer? PLEASE!!!

In similar triangles the ratios of corresponding sides are the same. So if you know 2 corresponding sides you can calculate the ratio. Then use this ratio to set up an equation for another pair of corresponding sides, one of which is known and the other is the one you are interested in.

 

[ricloc]

In similar triangles the ratios of corresponding sides are the same. So if you know 2 corresponding sides you can calculate the ratio. Then use this ratio to set up an equation for another pair of corresponding sides, one of which is known and the other is the one you are interested in.

I'm a 75 year old retiree with no maths experience! My problem is this .... I have had to raise the top end of my bed by 10 cms (AB).The legs in roughly middle of the bed are now elevated off the floor at at a distance from C to D. I need to put a block of wood under the bed at that point to stop it sagging, and therefore I need to calculate the height at that point. I hope this makes it clearer. Your help and calculation would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[jonah2.0]

Beer soaked suggestion follows.

I'm pretty useless in Maths! So I don't know the answer to your Question. Is it possible to just give me the answer? PLEASE!!!

Then it's time for you to get better at it.
It's not that hard.
All you need is a book (or books), notebooks, pencils, calculator, and time to study.
When you're confined to your house during a plague, you can't get but better at it.
There's no better time.

 

[lev888]

I'm a 75 year old retiree with no maths experience! My problem is this .... I have had to raise the top end of my bed by 10 cms (AB).The legs in roughly middle of the bed are now elevated off the floor at at a distance from C to D. I need to put a block of wood under the bed at that point to stop it sagging, and therefore I need to calculate the height at that point. I hope this makes it clearer. Your help and calculation would be appreciated. Thanks.

AB/AE=CD/CE
CD=AB*CE/AE

 

[ricloc]

Beer soaked suggestion follows.

Then it's time for you to get better at it.
It's not that hard.
All you need is a book (or books), notebooks, pencils, calculator, and time to study.
When you're confined to your house during a plague, you can't get but better at it.
There's no better time.

I'm a 75 year old retiree with no maths experience! And I certainly don't need a smart ar*e lecture!!! My problem is this .... I have had to raise the top end of my bed by 10 cms (AB).The legs in roughly middle of the bed are now elevated off the floor at at a distance from C to D. I need to put a block of wood under the bed at that point to stop it sagging, and therefore I need to calculate the height at that point. I hope this makes it clearer. Your help and calculation would be appreciated. Thanks. If you don't want to help me please don't bother responding!

 

[ricloc]

AB/AE=CD/CE
CD=AB*CE/AE

Thanks, but was is the * between AB and CE?

 

[ricloc]

AB/AE=CD/CE
CD=AB*CE/AE

OK. I think I have it! * is multiply, so my answer is 5.1648cms?

 

[lev888]

OK. I think I have it! * is multiply, so my answer is 5.1648cms?

Cut a strip of paper to check the fit.

 

[jonah2.0]

Beer soaked ramblings follow.

I'm a 75 year old retiree with no maths experience! And I certainly don't need a smart ar*e lecture!!! My problem is this .... I have had to raise the top end of my bed by 10 cms (AB).The legs in roughly middle of the bed are now elevated off the floor at at a distance from C to D. I need to put a block of wood under the bed at that point to stop it sagging, and therefore I need to calculate the height at that point. I hope this makes it clearer. Your help and calculation would be appreciated. Thanks. If you don't want to help me please don't bother responding!

I did try to help.
When you cleared up the ambiguity of your problem, I pointed to lev888's suggestion.
When I gave that "smart ar*e lecture", I didn't notice your explanation about your being 75 as something else engaged my attention for about two hours. I was surprised to see it when I received notification and was about to pm a moderator to just delete my unnecessary post but I got engaged by something else again. Anyway, you could have just explained your situation from the start and you might have gotten fast help. I did however find your claim of being a "75 year old retiree with no maths experience" as rather doubtful. Anyone can make such a claim on the net (I've seen an episode of MTV's Catfish) to gain sympathy. But to go through life without any kind of maths?