Problem

8. In right $\triangle A B C, C D$ is the altitude to hypotenuse $A B$. If $A C=12$ and $A D=5$, find $D B$.
12

Answer

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Answer

Final Answer: \(DB = \boxed{\frac{25}{12}}\)

Steps

Step 1 :Given a right triangle ABC, with CD as the altitude to the hypotenuse AB. The lengths of AC and AD are given as 12 and 5 respectively. We are asked to find the length of DB.

Step 2 :In a right triangle, the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse is the geometric mean of the lengths of the two segments of the hypotenuse. This gives us the equation \(AD^2 = AC * DB\).

Step 3 :Substituting the given values into the equation, we get \(5^2 = 12 * DB\).

Step 4 :Solving for DB, we get \(DB = \frac{25}{12}\).

Step 5 :Final Answer: \(DB = \boxed{\frac{25}{12}}\)

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