SOLUTION: A rectangle has a diagonal of 10 and length of 8. Find the width. help plzz?

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: A rectangle has a diagonal of 10 and length of 8. Find the width. help plzz?      Log On


   

Question 227392: A rectangle has a diagonal of 10 and length of 8. Find the width. help plzz?
Answer by LtAurora(115) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To determine the width use:
c%5E2=a%5E2%2Bb%5E2
c is the diagonal, and a is the length. Then solve for b.
So:
10%5E2=8%5E2%2Bb%5E2
Simplify:
100=64%2Bb%5E2
Move the 64 to the other side by subtracting:
36=b%5E2
Take the square root of 36 to eliminate the squared on the b:
6=b
So, our width is 6.