GRE Math : How to find the length of the side of an equilateral triangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Equilateral Triangles

What is the length of a side of an equilateral triangle if the area is \displaystyle 9\sqrt{3}?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{3\sqrt{3}}{2}

\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}

\displaystyle 9

\displaystyle 6\sqrt{3}

\displaystyle 6

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 6

Explanation:

The area of an equilateral triangle is \displaystyle \frac{s^2\sqrt{3}}{4}.

So let's set-up an equation to solve for \displaystyle s

\displaystyle \frac{s^2\sqrt{3}}{4}=9\sqrt{3} Cross multiply.

\displaystyle s^2\sqrt{3}=36\sqrt{3} 

The \displaystyle \sqrt{3} cancels out and we get \displaystyle s^2=36.

Then take square root on both sides and we get \displaystyle 6 as the final answer.

Example Question #3 : Equilateral Triangles

If the height of the equilateral triangle is \displaystyle 4\sqrt{2}, then what is the length of a side of an equilateral triangle?

 

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 4\sqrt{6}

\displaystyle \frac{4\sqrt{6}}{3}

\displaystyle \frac{8}{3}

\displaystyle \frac{8\sqrt{6}}{3}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \frac{8\sqrt{6}}{3}

Explanation:

By having a height in an equilateral triangle, the angle is bisected therefore creating two \displaystyle 30-60-90 triangles.

The height is opposite the angle \displaystyle 60. We can set-up a proportion.

Side opposite \displaystyle 60 is \displaystyle \sqrt{3} and the side of equilateral triangle which is opposite \displaystyle 90 is \displaystyle 2.

\displaystyle \frac{4\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{s}{2} Cross multiply.

\displaystyle 8\sqrt{2}=s\sqrt{3} Divide both sides by \displaystyle \sqrt{3}

\displaystyle \frac{8\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}}=s Multiply top and bottom by \displaystyle \sqrt{3} to get rid of the radical.

\displaystyle \frac{8\sqrt{6}}{3}=s

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