1. What is an Isosceles Triangle?

An isosceles triangle is a triangle with two sides of equal length. The angles opposite the equal sides are also equal. This calculator helps find the length of the equal sides (legs) when you know the base and height.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Pythagorean theorem applied to one half of the isosceles triangle:

Where:

• Base — Length of the unequal side
• Height — Perpendicular distance from base to opposite vertex
• Leg — Length of the equal sides

Explanation: The formula divides the isosceles triangle into two right triangles and applies the Pythagorean theorem to one of them.

3. Importance of Side Length Calculation

Details: Knowing the side lengths is essential for construction, engineering, and various geometric calculations involving isosceles triangles.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the base and height in any consistent length units. Both values must be positive numbers. The result will be in the same units as your input.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I use this for equilateral triangles?
A: Yes, since equilateral triangles are a special case of isosceles triangles where all sides are equal.

Q2: What if I know the legs but not the height?
A: You can rearrange the formula to calculate height: \( \text{Height} = \sqrt{\text{Leg}^2 - (\text{Base}/2)^2} \).

Q3: Does this work for all isosceles triangles?
A: Yes, as long as you have accurate measurements for base and height.

Q4: What units should I use?
A: Any consistent length units (cm, inches, feet, etc.) as long as both measurements use the same units.

Q5: How precise are the results?
A: Results are rounded to two decimal places for readability, but the calculation uses full precision.