PSAT Math : How to find the length of the diagonal of a rectangle

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Plane Geometry

What is the length of the diagonal of a rectangle that is 3 feet long and 4 feet wide?

Possible Answers:

5\ feet

4\ feet

7\ feet

8\ feet

6\ feet

Correct answer:

5\ feet

Explanation:

The diagonal of the rectangle is equivalent to finding the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides 3 and 4. Using the Pythagorean Theorem:

3^{2}+4^{2} = hypotenuse^{2}

25 = hypotenuse^{2}

hypotenuse = 5

Therefore the diagonal of the rectangle is 5 feet.

Example Question #202 : Plane Geometry

The length and width of a rectangle are in the ratio of 3:4. If the rectangle has an area of 108 square centimeters, what is the length of the diagonal?

Possible Answers:

12 centimeters

18 centimeters

9 centimeters

15 centimeters

24 centimeters

Correct answer:

15 centimeters

Explanation:

The length and width of the rectangle are in a ratio of 3:4, so the sides can be written as 3x and 4x.

We also know the area, so we write an equation and solve for x:

(3x)(4x) = 12x= 108.

x2 = 9

x = 3

Now we can recalculate the length and the width:

length = 3x = 3(3) = 9 centimeters

width = 4x = 4(3) = 12 centimeters

Using the Pythagorean Theorem we can find the diagonal, c:

length2 + width2 = c2

92 + 12= c2 

81 + 144 = c2

225 = c2

= 15 centimeters

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