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Question from Leonard, a student:

Whats the pythagorean theorem of computer measured 12"x 12" in length and width, whats the diagonal measurement in 15". Thank You

Hi Leonard,

If you draw a diagonal on a computer screen you form a right triangle and Pythagoras theorem says that if a and b are the lengths of the sides of the triangle and h is the length of the diagonal than

a2 + b2 = h2

Thus if a = b = 12 inches then

a2 + b2 = 122 + 122 = 288 = h2

and hence

h = √288 = 16.97 inches.

Penny

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