Final answer:
The diagonal length of a TV screen is found using the Pythagorean theorem. With a width of 48 inches and height of 36 inches, the diagonal is 60 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the diagonal length of the TV screen, we can apply the Pythagorean theorem which states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. Considering the width and height of the TV screen as the two sides of a right-angled triangle, we have:
Width = 48 inches (horizontal side)
Height = 36 inches (vertical side)
We need to find the diagonal, which is the hypotenuse.
Applying the Pythagorean theorem:
Diagonal2 = Width2 + Height2
Diagonal2 = 482 + 362
Diagonal2 = 2304 + 1296
Diagonal2 = 3600
Taking the square root of both sides:
√(Diagonal2) = √(3600)
Diagonal = 60 inches
Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 60 inches.