Definition:Triangle (Geometry)/Height
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Definition
The height of a triangle is the length of a perpendicular from the apex to whichever side has been chosen as its base.
That is, the length of the altitude so defined.
Thus the length of the altitude $h_a$ so constructed is called the height of $\triangle ABC$.
Also known as
The height of a triangle can sometimes be seen referred to as its altitude.
However, it is preferred on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ that the terms height and altitude are kept strictly separate.
Sources
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): base (of a triangle)
- 2014: Christopher Clapham and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (5th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): height