document.write( "Question 4043: The diagonal of a square television screen measures 18 inches. What is the length of the sides? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #1787 by rapaljer(4671) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Forgive me: I haven't learned how to use your equation boxes and draw pictures yet. Nevertheless, this is an easy one.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let x = length of the side of the square, where the diagonal of the rectangle is the hypotenuse of the right triangle.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "According to the Theorem or Pythagoras,
\n" ); document.write( "a^2 + b^2 = c^2
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + x^2 = 18^2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Combine like terms on the left side:
\n" ); document.write( "2x^2 = 324\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Divide both sides by 2
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 = 162\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Solve for x by taking the square root of each side of the equation.
\n" ); document.write( "x = +/- sqrt 162 \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Reject the negative answer since a side of a rectangle cannot be negative
\n" ); document.write( "Simplify the square root:
\n" ); document.write( "x= sqrt(81) sqrt(2)
\n" ); document.write( "x= 9 sqrt(2) \n" ); document.write( "

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