The perpendicular dropped from a vertex of a right-angled triangle upon the hypotenuse divides it into two segments of lengths 9 units and 16 units respectively. What is the length of the perpendicular?

  1. A. 6 units
  2. B. 8 units
  3. C. 10 units
  4. D. 12 units

Correct Answer: D. 12 units

Explanation

In a right triangle, the altitude to the hypotenuse is the geometric mean of the segments it divides the hypotenuse into: p = \sqrt{m \times n}. Length = \sqrt{9 \times 16} = \sqrt{144} = 12 units.

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