Math Is Fun Forum

Yumi

Member

Registered: 2006-02-25

Posts: 3

unable to understand my homeworks question

Hi,
I am stucked on a question on my homework. Here is the problem:
The diagonals of a rectangle are 8 units long and intersect at a 60 degree angle. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

What I dont get is , what is "dimension"? This is supposed to be about the "Special Right Triangle" (30-60-90) (45-45-90) Theorems.

Any help will be appreciated. Thank you!

John E. Franklin

Member

Registered: 2005-08-29

Posts: 3,588

Re: unable to understand my homeworks question

"Dimensions of a rectangle" means what is the "width and length" of the rectangle.

I would draw the "X" made by the two diagonals.

Try to make the left and right angles 120 degrees
and the top and bottom angles 60 degrees, since they said 60.
  120 + 60 is 180, that's why.

Then draw the rectangle around the X.

Now you see isosolese triangles, so to make them right triangles,
draw a big plus sign right through the X.

Now you have eight right triangles, all of them 30/60/90 triangles, I think.

Good luck.

---

igloo myrtilles fourmis

Yumi

Member

Registered: 2006-02-25

Posts: 3

Re: unable to understand my homeworks question

I get it now Thank you so much for the help