The two shorter sides of a right-angled triangle are 15 cm and 20 cm. What is the length of the perpendicular from the right-angle vertex to the hypotenuse?

Explanation

1. 01

   Hypotenuse = $\sqrt{15^2 + 20^2} = \sqrt{625} = 25$ cm.

2. 02

   Area = $\frac{1}{2} \times 15 \times 20 = 150$ cm², and also $\frac{1}{2} \times 25 \times h$.

3. 03

   So $h = \frac{15 \times 20}{25} = 12$ cm.