I need help solving the length and width of a rectangle by using the Pythagorean Theorem to find it. The area is 108 square inches and it has a diagonal measure of 15 inches. I am having a lot of trouble understanding how to work this formula. Any help would be appreciated.

Question

imstuck · Answer

You're looking for the length and the width of this?

anonymous · Answer

Yes. I am trying to figure out how to achieve this. I am unsure how to.

imstuck · Answer

Working on it now before I post any advice for you, ok?

anonymous · Answer

Okay.

campbell_st · Answer

well do it this way... 

let the sided of the rectangle be a and b

then using pythagoras

a^2 + b^2 = 15^2

now the area 

$$a \times b = 108$$


in the area formula make a the subject

so 

$$a = \frac{108}{b}$$

substitute it into pythagoras's theorem and solve for b

hope it helps

campbell_st · Answer

and remember the only values that a and b can take are positives... 

you end up with a quartic equation that can be solve like a quadratic

anonymous · Answer

Okay. Thank you. Going to try that.

campbell_st · Answer

when you get the quartic... its an equation that's reducible to a quadratic... so use the quadratic formula to find b