A right triangle has sides A, B, and C. Side A is the hypotenuse and side B is also a side of a rectangle. Sides A, C, and the side of the rectangle adjacent to side B have lengths of #18 #, #5 #, and #3 #, respectively. What is the rectangle's area?
1 Answer
Apr 18, 2016
≈ 51.87 square units
Explanation:
The area of the rectangle = 3B
Since the triangle is right with A the hypotenuse, we can find B by using
#color(blue)" Pythagoras' theorem " #
#rArr A^2 = B^2 + C^2 rArr B^2 = A^2 - C^2# here A = 18 , C = 5
# rArr B^2 = 18^2 - 5^2 = 324 - 25 = 299# now
# B^2 = 299 rArr B = sqrt299 ≈ 17.29 # area of rectangle
#= 3B = 3xx17.29 = 51.87 #
