Question in-abo
In above, what is the length of
?
4
6
In above, what is the length of ?
Medium-difficulty · SAT Math · Right Triangles & Trigonometry — Trig ratios (sin, cos, tan) in right triangles. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice B is correct. Triangles ADB and CDB are both triangles and share
. Therefore, triangles ADB and CDB are congruent by the angle-side-angle postulate. Using the properties of
triangles, the length of
is half the length of hypotenuse
. Since the triangles are congruent,
. So the length of
is
.
Alternate approach: Since angle CBD has a measure of , angle ABC must have a measure of
. It follows that triangle ABC is equilateral, so side AC also has length 12. It also follows that the altitude BD is also a median, and therefore the length of AD is half of the length of AC, which is 6.
Choice A is incorrect. If the length of were 4, then the length of
would be 8. However, this is incorrect because
is congruent to
, which has a length of 12. Choices C and D are also incorrect. Following the same procedures as used to test choice A gives
a length of
for choice C and
for choice D. However, these results cannot be true because
is congruent to
, which has a length of 12.
More Right Triangles & Trigonometry practice questions
- The length of a rectangle’s diagonal is 5 17 , and the length of
- One angle is a right angle. The measure of a second angle is x/li>
- In the figure above, . If and , what is the length of ?
- One angle is a right angle. The measure of a second angle is x/li>
- R S = 440 S T = 384 T R = 584 The side
- What is the value of sin 42 π ?
- One angle is a right angle. The length of the side opposite the right
- What is the value of tan 92 π 3 ?
Browse all Additional Topics in Math practice questions or return to the full SAT question bank.
