Question

The eighth-grade math class keeps a flower garden in the front of the building. The garden is in the

shape of a right triangle. The two smaller sides measure 9 feet and 12 feet. The class wants to install a
3-foot-high picket fence around the garden to keep students from stepping onto the flowers. The picket
fence they need costs $5 per foot. How much will the fence cost? Do not calculate sales tax. Show your
work and justify your solution.

Answer 1

Answer: $180

Explanation:

a right triangle has three sides: the two smaller ones and the big one. the two smaller ones squared add up to the bigger one squared.

this is the pythagorean theorem, a^2 + b^2 = c^2.

in this case, it would be 9 squared + 12 squared = c squared.

81 + 144 = 225

225 is the square of 15, so the third side is 15.

now, solve for the perimeter.

the perimeter is the 3 sides added up, so 9+12+15 = 36 feet of perimeter.

each foot costs $5, so 36x5= 180.

$180 is the answer.