Question 543899
1. an open top box with the base width of 4 feet base length of 5 feet and height of 3 feet.
 now suppose the there are three straight rigid wires of lengths 6, 7, and 8 feet can any of these wires be laid flat on the base of the box? 
If it can't be laid flat determine if it can be placed inside the box without bending the wire. 
if they cant be be placed in the inside of the box without bending the wire explain why or why not
:
Find the diagonal of the base using pythag; c^2 = a^2 + b^2
c^2 = 4^2 + 5^2
c^2 = 16 + 25
c = {{{sqrt(41)}}}
c ~ 6.4 ft, so clearly the 6' wire can be placed on the bottom unbent,
the 6' and 8' wires cannot be
:
Determine the distance from the lower corner to the opposite upper corner of the box. Call this one C
We us use pythag again but the two sides are 6.4 and 3
C^2 = 6.4^2 + 3^2
C^2 = 41 + 9
C = {{{sqrt(50)}}}
C ~ 7.1 ft, similarly, the 7' wire can be placed in the box (upper corner to lower opposite corner) but the 8' wire cannot
:
Did this make sense to you?