SOLUTION: An architect wants to draw a rectangle with a diagonal of 13 inches. The length of the rectangle is to be 2 inches more than twice the width. What dimensions should she make the

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Question 732957: An architect wants to draw a rectangle with a diagonal of 13 inches. The length of the rectangle is to be 2 inches more than twice the width. What dimensions should she make the rectangle?
This should be easy but I haven't been able to get to the correct answer. Please help.
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let represent the width. Then must represent the length.

The square of the width plus the square of the length equals the square of the diagonal -- Pythagoras said it, I believe it, that settles it.

So:



Solve the quadratic for , discarding the negative root. Or save yourself some work by remembering that 13, 12, 5 is a Pythagorean triple.

John

Egw to Beta kai to Sigma
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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