Question

DIRECTIONS: Draw a picture to represent each problem. Then, use

the Pythagorean Theorem to answer the question. Answer each
question in a complete sentence.

1. Your family wants to purchase a new laptop with a 17” widescreen. Since the 17
inches represents the diagonal measurement of the screen (upper corner to lower
corner), you want to find out the actual dimensions of the laptop. When you
measured the laptop at the store, the height was 10 inches, but you don’t
remember the width. Calculate and describe how you could figure out the width of
the laptop to the nearest tenth inch.

2. The bottom of a 13-foot straight ladder is set into the ground 5 feet away from a
wall. When the top of the ladder is leaned against the wall, what is the distance
above the ground it will reach?

Answer 1

Pythagorean theorem is: a^2+b^2=c^2

1. 10^2+b^2=17^2
So 100+b^2=289
b^2=189
b=
`√(189)`
b=13 3/4
The dimensions are 10 by 13 3/4

2. 5^2+b^2=13^2
So 25+b^2=169
b^2=144
b=12
The ladder reaches 12 feet off the ground