Triangle Height Practice Problems & Solutions - Free Worksheets

Master triangle height calculations with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to find altitudes in right, isosceles, and scalene triangles using geometric principles.

📚Master Triangle Height Calculations Through Interactive Practice
  • Calculate triangle heights using the Pythagorean theorem in right triangles
  • Find altitudes that fall inside and outside triangle boundaries
  • Apply height formulas to solve area and perimeter problems
  • Work with heights in isosceles triangles and parallelograms
  • Identify perpendicular segments from vertices to opposite sides
  • Solve complex geometry problems involving triangle altitudes

Understanding Triangle Height

Complete explanation with examples

Set the Height of a Triangle

The height of a triangle is the segment that connects a vertex to the opposite side such that it creates a 90-degree angle.

In every triangle, there are three heights, as there are three vertices from which the height can be calculated relative to the side that is opposite to each of them.

The height can be found either inside or outside of the triangle. If it does not run through the interior of the triangle, it is called an external height.

Below, we provide you with some examples of triangle heights:

A1 - triangle height

Detailed explanation

Practice Triangle Height

Test your knowledge with 36 quizzes

Is the straight line in the figure the height of the triangle?

Examples with solutions for Triangle Height

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

In an isosceles triangle, the angle between ? and ? is the "base angle".

Step-by-Step Solution

An isosceles triangle is one that has at least two sides of equal length. The angles opposite these two sides are known as the "base angles."
The side that is not equal to the other two is referred to as the "base" of the triangle. Thus, the "base angles" are the angles between each of the sides that are equal in length and the base.
Therefore, when we specify the angle in terms of its location or position, it is the angle between a "side" and the "base." This leads to the conclusion that the angle between the side and the base is the "base angle."

Therefore, the correct choice is Side, base.

Answer:

Side, base.

Exercise #2

Look at the two triangles below. Is EC a side of one of the triangles?

AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF

Step-by-Step Solution

Every triangle has 3 sides. First let's go over the triangle on the left side:

Its sides are: AB, BC, and CA.

This means that in this triangle, side EC does not exist.

Let's then look at the triangle on the right side:

Its sides are: ED, EF, and FD.

This means that in this triangle, side EC also does not exist.

Therefore, EC is not a side in either of the triangles.

Answer:

No

Video Solution
Exercise #3

According to figure BC=CB?

AAABBBCCCDDDEEE

Step-by-Step Solution

In geometry, the distance or length of a line segment between two points is the same, regardless of the direction in which it is measured. Consequently, the segments denoted by BC BC and CB CB refer to the same segment, both indicating the distance between points B and C.

Hence, the statement "BC = CB" is indeed True.

Answer:

True

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Look at the two triangles below.

Is CB a side of one of the triangles?

AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFF

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to determine if segment CB is a side of one of the triangles, let's start by identifying the triangles and their corresponding vertices from the given diagram:

  • Triangle 1 has vertices labeled as A, B, C.
  • Triangle 2 has vertices labeled as D, E, F.

Now, to decide if CB is a side, we need to check if a line segment exists between points C and B in any of these triangles.

Upon examining the points:

  • Point C is present in triangle 1.
  • Point B is also present in triangle 1.
  • The line segment connecting B and C is visible, forming the base of triangle 1.

Therefore, segment CB is indeed a side of triangle ABC, confirming that the answer is Yes.

Thus, the solution to the problem is Yes \text{Yes} .

Answer:

Yes.

Exercise #5

Fill in the blanks:

In an isosceles triangle, the angle between two ___ is called the "___ angle".

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to solve this problem, we need to understand the basic properties of an isosceles triangle.

An isosceles triangle has two sides that are equal in length, often referred to as the "legs" of the triangle. The angle formed between these two equal sides, which are sometimes referred to as the "sides", is called the "vertex angle" or sometimes more colloquially as the "main angle".

When considering the vocabulary of the given multiple-choice answers, choice 2: sides,mainsides, main accurately fills the blanks, as the angle formed between the two equal sides can indeed be referred to as the "main angle".

Therefore, the correct answer to the problem is: sides,mainsides, main.

Answer:

sides, main

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the height of a triangle and how do you find it?

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The height of a triangle is a perpendicular segment drawn from any vertex to the opposite side, forming a 90-degree angle. To find it, you can use the Pythagorean theorem in right triangles or area formulas where height = (2 × Area) ÷ base length.

Can a triangle height be outside the triangle?

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Yes, triangle heights can be external when the triangle is obtuse. In obtuse triangles, the altitude from the obtuse angle vertex falls outside the triangle, extending beyond the opposite side to maintain the perpendicular relationship.

How many heights does every triangle have?

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Every triangle has exactly three heights, one from each vertex to its opposite side. These three altitudes always intersect at a single point called the orthocenter, regardless of the triangle type.

What's the difference between triangle height and side length?

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Triangle height is always perpendicular to a side and may not be one of the triangle's three sides. Side lengths are the actual edges of the triangle, while heights are auxiliary lines used for calculations like finding area.

How do you calculate triangle area using height?

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The triangle area formula is: Area = (1/2) × base × height. Choose any side as the base, then use the corresponding height (perpendicular distance from the opposite vertex to that base) to calculate the area.

Why do isosceles triangles have special height properties?

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In isosceles triangles, the height from the vertex angle to the base bisects both the vertex angle and the base. This creates two congruent right triangles, making calculations easier and creating symmetrical properties.

What are common mistakes when finding triangle heights?

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Common errors include: 1) Confusing height with side length, 2) Not ensuring the height is perpendicular, 3) Measuring to the wrong side, 4) Forgetting that heights can be external in obtuse triangles.

How does the Pythagorean theorem help find triangle heights?

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When a triangle height creates a right triangle, you can use a² + b² = c² to find the missing height. The height becomes one leg, part of the base becomes the other leg, and the triangle's side becomes the hypotenuse.

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