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Given that ABCD is a trapezoid (AB ∥ DC), AD = BD = CD = 6.5cm and BC = 5cm. Find the length of the diagonal

AC
.

Given that ABCD is a trapezoid (AB ∥ DC), AD = BD = CD = 6.5cm and BC = 5cm. Find-example-1
User Nguthrie
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

AC = 12

Explanation:

You want the length of diagonal AC in trapezoid ABCD with AD=BD=CD=6.5 and BC=5.

Semicircle

A semicircle of radius 6.5 centered at D will pass through points A, B, C and will intersect line CD at E. Then CE=13, and AE=5 by symmetry to BC.

Triangle EAC is a right triangle with leg EA=5 and hypotenuse EC=2·6.5=13. Then diagonal AC can be found from the Pythagorean theorem:

EC² = AE² +AC²

13² -5² = AC² = 169 -25 = 144

AC = √144 = 12

The length of diagonal AC is 12.

Given that ABCD is a trapezoid (AB ∥ DC), AD = BD = CD = 6.5cm and BC = 5cm. Find-example-1
User Brown KL
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7.2k points