Question

In the roof design below, the lower support beam, A, is 34 feet. The vertical support beam, B, is 29 feet. The two beams meet at a right angle. What is the length of the angled support beam, C (rounded to the nearest foot)?

A. 43
B. 76
C. 63
D. 45

Answer 1

D. 45

Explanation:

Without a diagram, we can only assume that C is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs A and B. If that is the case, then the length of C is given by the Pythagorean theorem:

C^2 = A^2 + B^2

C^2 = (34 ft)^2 + (29 ft)^2

C^2 = 1997 ft^2

C = √1997 ft ≈ 44.69 ft

The length of beam C is about 45 feet.