document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=537198>Question 537198</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \"A rectangular plot of ground measures 48 meters by 20 meters. The owner plans to put a diagonal walk from one corner to the opposite corner. How long will the walk be?\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This question is confusing me because I don't understand how to find the middle! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #352755 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=lmeeks54><B>lmeeks54(111)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=lmeeks54><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=lmeeks54><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=352755\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You don't have to find the middle.  The problem is a tricky way to get you to think about right triangles.  A rectangle has 4 equal angles of 90 degrees each and normally two equal length long sides and two equal length short sides.  If you slice that rectangle from corner to corner with a diagonal line, you end up with two right triangles facing each other.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The Pythagorean Theorem states that for a right triangle, the formula linking the lengths of the sides is given by:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c^2 = a^2 + b^2 where c = the hypotenuse (the diagonal walk for your problem) and a and b are the short and long sides of the rectangle (also called the base and height of the right triangle).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You are given:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 48 meters<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 20 meters<BR>\n" );
document.write( "we just need to solve for c now:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c^2 = a^2 + b^2 can be simplified by taking the sqrt of both sides:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = sqrt(a^2 + b^2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just substitute in the values for a and b given above and solve for c:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = sqrt(48^2 + 20^2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = sqrt(2304 + 400)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 52 meters is the length of your diagonal sidewalk...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Lee </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );