document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=98335>Question 98335</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Just a quick question. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I built a shelf. Its going to be 24\" from the wall at a height of 38\". How long do I make my braces from the front edge to the back at floor level? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #71499 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=71499\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You can solve this problem using the Pythagorean theorem because a right triangle is involved.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The right triangle has as its vertexes the corner formed by the wall meeting the floor, the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "corner where the shelf meets the wall, and the front edge of the shelf.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The Pythagorean theorem says that the sum of the squares of the two legs of the right triangle<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is equal to the square of the longest side, and the longest side in this problem is the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "distance from the front edge of the shelf to the corner where the wall and floor meet.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Call this longest distance L, and the legs of the triangle are 24 inches and 38 inches.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the Pythagorean equation described previously becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=24%5E2+%2B+38%5E2+=+L%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"24%5E2+%2B+38%5E2+=+L%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=24%5E2+=+24%2A24+=+576 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"24%5E2+=+24%2A24+=+576\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=38%5E2+=+38%2A38+=+1444 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"38%5E2+=+38%2A38+=+1444\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. Substitute these values and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the equation becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=576+%2B+1444+=+L%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"576+%2B+1444+=+L%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add the two numbers on the left side to get:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2020+=+L%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2020+=+L%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Finally, solve for L by taking the square root of both sides to get:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=L+=+sqrt%282020%29+=+44.9444 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"L+=+sqrt%282020%29+=+44.9444\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the distance from the front edge of the shelf to the junction of the wall and the floor<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is 44.9444 inches which is pretty darn close to 44 and 15/16 inches.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps you to understand the problem and to see how the answer can be calculated.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ". </SPAN>\n" );
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