Question

The areas of two similar triangles are `81cm^2` and `49cm^2` respectively. If the altitude of the first triangle is 6.3cm, find the corresponding altitude of the other. 

Answer 1

It is given that the triangles are similar.
Therefore, the areas of these triangles will be equal to the ratio of squares of their corresponding sides.  

Also, the ratio of areas of two similar triangles is equal to the ratio of squares of their corresponding altitudes.
Let the two triangles be ABC and DEF with altitudes AP and DQ, respectively.  

  `(ar(ΔABC))/(ar(ΔPQR))=(AP^2)/(DQ^2)`  

⇒`81/49=6.3^2/(DQ^2)` 

⇒ `DQ^2=49/81xx6.3^2` 

⇒ `DQ^2=sqrt(49/81xx6.3xx6.3)`

Hence, the altitude of the other triangle is 4.9 cm