Question

Rey drew the isosceles triangle LMN and the segment LP. How can Rey tell whether the segment drawn is the height of the triangle?

Answer 1

Explanation:

If LP represented the height of the triangle, then the segment would be the vertical leg of a right triangle. This is due to the fact that the altitude of an isosceles triangle is perpendicular to the base MN.

Thus, by the Pythagorean Theorem, (1.3)^2 + (3.5)^2 = (3.7)^2 if and only if segment LP is the height of the triangle. Calculate for yourself whether this is true.