SOLUTION: The ration of length to width of a piece of paper is 15 to 7. A diagonal drawn on the piece of paper has a length of 0.0662dam. What are the dimensions of the page in cm. Tried usi

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: The ration of length to width of a piece of paper is 15 to 7. A diagonal drawn on the piece of paper has a length of 0.0662dam. What are the dimensions of the page in cm. Tried usi      Log On


   

Question 647130: The ration of length to width of a piece of paper is 15 to 7. A diagonal drawn on the piece of paper has a length of 0.0662dam. What are the dimensions of the page in cm. Tried using the pythagorus theory, but stuck because of the unknown length and width.
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The ratio of length to width of a piece of paper is 15 to 7.
A diagonal drawn on the piece of paper has a length of 0.0662dam.
What are the dimensions of the page in cm.
:
Let x = the multiplier
then
15x = the actual length
and
7x = actual width
:
Assume .0662dam means .0662 decameters (10 meters)
.0662 decameters = .662 meters
.662 * 100 = 66.2 cm
:
Using a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where
a = 15x
b = 7x
c = 66.2
:
(15x)^2 + (7x)^2 = 66.2^2
225x^2 + 49x^2 = 4382.44
274x^2 = 4382.44
x^2 = 4382.44/274
x^2 ~ 16
x = sqrt%2816%29
x = 4 is the multiplier
:
15*4 = 60 cm is the length
and
7*4 = 28 cm is the width
:
:
Check this on a calc: enter: sqrt%2860%5E2%2B28%5E2%29 results 62.2