SOLUTION: what does it mean to refer to a 20-in TV set or a 25-in TV set? Such units refer to the diagonal of the screen. A 15-in TV set also has a width of 12 inches. What is its height? Wh

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: what does it mean to refer to a 20-in TV set or a 25-in TV set? Such units refer to the diagonal of the screen. A 15-in TV set also has a width of 12 inches. What is its height? Wh      Log On


   

Question 234082: what does it mean to refer to a 20-in TV set or a 25-in TV set? Such units refer to the diagonal of the screen. A 15-in TV set also has a width of 12 inches. What is its height? What is the height of a 15-in TV?
Answer by eggsarecool(46) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This problem is done using the Pythagoran theorem. Which says that a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2
This says that the two shorter sides of a right triangle squared equal the long side squared

And the triangles longest side is the diagnol line across the tv set.
So we know the diagnol of the tv is 15, so c=15
And we know the leangth is 12 so a=12
This gives you that 15%5E2=12%5E2%2Bb%5E2
225-144=b%5E2
b%5E2=81
b=9
Since b is the height of your triangle the height is 9.