SOLUTION: Given a length of 1, construct a triangle with a perimeter of 3 plus the square root of 5. Explain the steps in your construction.

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Question 564346: Given a length of 1, construct a triangle with a perimeter of 3 plus the square root of 5. Explain the steps in your construction.
Answer by ad_alta(240) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is an interesting question. You can intuit the answer, or use more advanced math to get at it directly.
Given a length of one, I would measure out a side of length 2 and then a side of length 1 so that the two sides were perpendicular. Then, but the Pythagorean theorem, the hypotenuse has length sqrt(5). Thus, the perimeter is 1+2+sqrt(5)=3+sqrt(5).