Question

A rectangular box is tied with a ribbon so that the ribbon crosses the box at the midpoints of its sides. If the box is 8 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 5 inches high, how long is the ribbon? hint: look for right triangles.

Answer 1

The ribbon is 28.4 meters

Explanation:

Given the box is 5m high, 6m long, and 8m wide,

we have a right angled triangle with hypotenuse = unknown, x, say

Opposite = 5m and 8m

Then, by Pythagoras theorem

x² = 5² + 8²

x² = 25 + 64

x² = 89

x = √89 ≈ 9.4m

The ribbon is now (5 + 6 + 8 + 9.4)m = 28.4m