SOLUTION: A rectangle is drawn so the width is 5 inches longer than the height. If the rectangle's diagonal measurement is 28 inches, find the height.

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Question 1182601: A rectangle is drawn so the width is 5 inches longer than the height. If the rectangle's diagonal measurement is 28 inches, find the height.
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, MathTherapy:
Answer by ikleyn(52777) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by MathTherapy(10551) About Me  (Show Source):
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A rectangle is drawn so the width is 5 inches longer than the height. If the rectangle's diagonal measurement is 28 inches, find the height.
Let height be H

Then width = H + 5

Using the Pythagorean formula, we get: H2 + (H + 5)2 = 282

                                       H2 + H2 + 10H + 25 = 784

                                       2H2 + 10H + 25 - 784 = 0

                                       2H2 + 10H - 759 = 0

To get the height, solve the above equation for H, using the Quadratic Equation formula, or by Completing the Square.

Then, DISCARD the negative value for H since a measurement CANNOT be < 0.