Need help with a math problem

[coolred]

Actually i got the answer myself, I just want to make sure I did it right, been a while and I may have forgoten how to do it, been a while since I took geomerty or whatever it is. So here goes.

Say you have a triangle in this case and equilateral triangle. Meaning to legs are the same length and the inside angles are 90 degrees and 2 45 degree angles. The length of the hypotenuse(spelling is probablly wrong and is that even the rigth word?) or the longest side is 70.875 inches. What are the lengths of the other 2 legs?


According to my math each leg would be 50.125 inches. Is this correct?

 

[stan394]

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

so er... i think you are right.

 

[Mo0o]

Um.. you can't have an equilateral triangle thats a right triangle.

If you're trying to find the legs, its 2x^2=70.875^2 . enjoy

 

[Heisenberg]

Umm...if it's equilateral all the sides are the same length.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Um.. you can't have an equilateral triangle thats a right triangle.

If you're trying to find the legs, its 2x^2=70.875^2 . enjoy

What? Isn't an equilateral always a right triangle. Like I said, its been a while for me, but if each leg is the same doesn't that make the 2 angles at the legs an hypotenuse 45 degrees each, thus leaving 90 degrees left for the angle of the 2 legs?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Umm...if it's equilateral all the sides are the same length.

All sides and angles I believe.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Umm...if it's equilateral all the sides are the same length.

All sides are the same length, I though just 2 where

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: coolred
What? Isn't an equilateral always a right triangle. Like I said, its been a while for me, but if each leg is the same doesn't that make the 2 angles at the legs an hypotenuse 45 degrees each, thus leaving 90 degrees left for the angle of the 2 legs?

No. An equilateral triangle means that all 3 legs are the same length. This can only occur if all three angles are 60°. And your math is close, but not exactly correct.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: coolred

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Um.. you can't have an equilateral triangle thats a right triangle.

If you're trying to find the legs, its 2x^2=70.875^2 . enjoy

What? Isn't an equilateral always a right triangle. Like I said, its been a while for me, but if each leg is the same doesn't that make the 2 angles at the legs an hypotenuse 45 degrees each, thus leaving 90 degrees left for the angle of the 2 legs?

equilateral = all 3 sides equal, each angle 60 degrees

angles 90,45,45 with 2 sides equal is isosceles

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: coolred
What? Isn't an equilateral always a right triangle. Like I said, its been a while for me, but if each leg is the same doesn't that make the 2 angles at the legs an hypotenuse 45 degrees each, thus leaving 90 degrees left for the angle of the 2 legs?

No. An equilateral triangle means that all 3 legs are the same length. This can only occur if all three angles are 60°.

He's thinking of an isosceles triangle.

 

[coolred]

You guys are right, I just checked the definition of equilateral and it is all sides the same, what the heck is a triangle called with 2 legs the same, I know it has a name. Isocelese(sp?) maybe

 

[stan394]

yes equilateral triangle is one with all 3 legs same length. so a equilateral triangle can't have a 90-degree angle. a triangle with 2 equal-length sides is called Isosceles Triangle

yes i googled... man it's been maybe 15 years....

EDIT: and slowed by about a day

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: BigJ
He's thinking of an isosceles triangle.

Not really either. Not all isosceles triangles are right triangles. He is thinking of a specific isosceles triangle which is also a right triangle: called an isosceles right triangle.

 

[coolred]

Thank you guys for clearing that up. My fault, like I said, its been a while. Thanks for the help.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: BigJ
He's thinking of an isosceles triangle.

Not really either. Not all isosceles triangles are right triangles. He is thinking of a specific isosceles triangle which is also a right triangle.

Yes, I should've elaborated, a right isosceles triangle.

EDIT: And they're adjectives, so I should be able to put either one before the other.

 

[Mo0o]

Ok you need to make things clear. Is it a:

a) Equilateral triangle, in which case all sides are the same length and the angle MUST be 60 degrees for each corner
b) Right Triangle, in which two of the sides are the same length and one longer one. 1 90 degree angle and 2 45 degree angle
c) Isoceles Triangle, in which two of the sides are the same length and one different one(either longer or shorter), 2 of the angles same, one different (either larger or smaller_

 

[stan394]

Isosceles Triangle
Equilateral Triangle