SOLUTION: how do i find the shorter length of a rectangle given the long length at 30 and diagonal as 34?

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Question 463678: how do i find the shorter length of a rectangle given the long length at 30 and diagonal as 34?
Answer by alicealc(293) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
shorter length = a
longer length = b
diagonal = c
use Phytagoras theorem:
a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2
a%5E2+%2B+30%5E2+=+34%5E2
a%5E2+%2B+900+=+1156
a%5E2+=+1156+-+900
a%5E2+=+256
a+=+sqrt%28256%29
a = 16

so the shorter length = 16