Final answer:
The diagonal measurement of a 12 x 16 wood deck is 20 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the diagonal measurement of a rectangular deck, you can use the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
In this case, the length and width of the deck form a right triangle. So, by using the formula: diagonal = sqrt((length^2) + (width^2)), we can calculate the diagonal measurement.
For the given dimensions of 12 ft by 16 ft, the diagonal measurement is:
diagonal = sqrt((12^2) + (16^2)) = sqrt(144 + 256) = sqrt(400) = 20 ft.