SOLUTION: The diagonal of a rectangle is 17 inches. If the length of the rectangle is 15 inches, what is the width of the rectangle in inches?

Question 596295: The diagonal of a rectangle is 17 inches. If the length of the rectangle is 15 inches, what is the width of the rectangle in inches?
Answer by math-vortex(648) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is a problem where you can use the Pythagorean Equation, a^2 + ^2 = c^2. Sketch a picture of the rectangle and one of its diagonals. Notice that you have a right triangles when you draw the diagonal. The diagonal D is the hypotenuse. The width W and length L of the rectangle form the two legs of the right triangle

The Pythagorean Equation using our variables,
L^2 + W^2 = D^2
.
Substitute in the values we know:
(15)^2 + W^2 = (17)^2
.
Simplify and solve for W. Subtract 225 from both sides.
225 + W^2 = 289
W^2 = 289 � 225
W^2 = 64
.
Take the square root of both sides. If W^2 is 64, then W is 8 because 8 times 8 is 64.
W = 8
.
The width is 8 feet. The problem asks for the width in inches. There are 12 inches in each of those 8 feet, so we multiply 8*12=96. The width is 96 inches.
.
Good luck!
Ms.Figgy

RELATED QUESTIONS
What is the length? The diagonal of a rectangle is 25 in. The width is 15 inches. Is it (answered by mananth)

the perimeter of a rectangle is 66 inches. the width of the rectangle is 17 inches less... (answered by josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

If the diagonal measurement of a rectangle is 300 inches, what is the height and... (answered by srinivas.g,Alan3354)

The width of a rectangle is one-fifth of its perimeter. If the length of the rectangle... (answered by jorel555)

the diagonal of a rectangle is 25 inches the width is 15 inches.what is the area of the... (answered by josgarithmetic)

the perimeter of a rectangle is 138 inches. The length exceeds the width by 17 inches.... (answered by rfer)

the perimeter of a rectangle is 80 inches. if the width is 15 inches, what is the... (answered by ebs013)

If a rectangle has a diagonal of 22 inches and a width of 18 inches, how long is the... (answered by london maths tutor)

The diagonal of a rectangle measures 15 inches and the length is 3 more than the width.... (answered by edjones)