8. What is the length, in inches, of the altitude of an equilateral triangle with side length of 4 centimeters? Write your answer as a simplified radical.



Answer :

To find the length of the altitude of an equilateral triangle with a side length of 4 centimeters and express it in inches, we can follow these detailed steps:

1. Calculate the altitude in centimeters:
- In an equilateral triangle, the altitude (height) can be calculated using the formula:
[tex]\[ \text{altitude} = \frac{\text{side length} \times \sqrt{3}}{2} \][/tex]
- Given the side length [tex]\( s = 4 \)[/tex] cm, the altitude (h) will be:
[tex]\[ h = \frac{4 \times \sqrt{3}}{2} = 2\sqrt{3} \text{ cm} \][/tex]

2. Convert the altitude from centimeters to inches:
- We know that [tex]\( 1 \)[/tex] cm is approximately [tex]\( 0.393701 \)[/tex] inches.
- The altitude in centimeters is [tex]\( 2\sqrt{3} \)[/tex] cm. To convert this to inches:
[tex]\[ \text{altitude in inches} = 2\sqrt{3} \times 0.393701 \][/tex]
- We can approximate this calculation (without using a calculator):
[tex]\[ \sqrt{3} \approx 1.732 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 2 \sqrt{3} \approx 2 \times 1.732 = 3.464 \text{ cm} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 3.464 \times 0.393701 \approx 1.364 \text{ inches} \][/tex]

3. Express altitude in inches as a simplified radical:
- To write the altitude in inches as a simplified radical:
- Initially, we converted [tex]\( 2\sqrt{3} \)[/tex] cm directly into inches using the conversion factor.
[tex]\[ 2\sqrt{3} \text{ cm} \times \frac{1 \text{ inch}}{2.54 \text{ cm}/\text{inch}} = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2.54} \text{ inches} \][/tex]
- Simplifying this fraction:
[tex]\[ \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2.54} = \frac{2\sqrt{3}}{2 \times 1.27} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{1.27} \text{ inches} \][/tex]

So, the length of the altitude in inches, expressed as a simplified radical, is:
[tex]\[ \frac{\sqrt{3}}{1.27} \text{ inches} \][/tex]

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