Question

the length of a the diagonal of a rectangular garden is 34m . If its longer side measures 30m , find the shorter side of the garden.

Answer 1

34^2 = 30^2 + length of the shortr side^2
By Pythagoras Theorem,

1156 = 900 + length of the shorter side^2
length of the shorter side^2 = 1156 - 900
= 256
root 256 = 16 metres

therefore length of the shorter side = 16 m

Answer 2

Diagonal divides the rectangle into two right triangles.
The diagonal is the hypotenuse = 34m
The length of the rectangle is the base = 30m
The breadth of the rectangle is the perpendicular= x m
Using Pythagoras Theorem,
x =√ (34)^2 - (30)^2
x = √ 1156 - 900
x = √256
x = 16m
Therefore the shorter side of the garden is 16m