triangles

[operator]

Thanks dave for the last piece of information. I find myself stuck on a question about triangles. What is the side length of an equilateral triangle if the area is 1732 cm squared. What is the equation? I'm missing something? Thanks in advance

[jordan]

I'd set up two equations, 1 for the height in terms of the base and 1 for the area of a triangle. Then, substitute the formula for height into the second equation and solve.

 

A=(1/2)bh

(b/2)*sqrt(3)=h

 

I think that might work.

[Dave]

One of the numerous equations for working out the area of a triangle is 1/2*a*b*sin(theta), where theta is the angle between the two sides a and b. If you use this formula, it's pretty easy to find the side length:

 

i.e. 1732 = 1/2*a² sin(60)

 

Re-arrange it a bit, and you should get a to be sqrt(1732*4/sqrt(3)) = 63.24 cm.

 

(this is basically the same approach as the one jordan mentioned, only without the simultaneous equations).

[jordan]

I do tend to do things the hard way like that. I'm just horrible at memorizing formulas so I solve it my own way and end up with something close to the origional formula. It's kind of rewarding to do it like that sometimes. Other times it's just anoying.