document.write( "Question 23845: A rectangular parcel of land is 50 ft wide. The length of a diagonla between opposite corners is 10 ft more than the lenght of the parcel. What is the lenght of the parcel? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #12586 by ilana(307) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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If we draw the rectangle with width=50, length=x, diagonal=x+10, we find a right triangle with sides 50 and x, and hypotenuse=x+10. We then use the Pythagorean Theorem to get (x+10)^2 = 50^2 + x^2, so x^2+20x+100=2500+x^2.
\n" ); document.write( "When we subtract x^2 from both sides, we get 20x+100=2500, subtracting 100 gives 20x=2400, dividing by 20 gives x=120ft. So this is the length. \n" ); document.write( "

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