Chapter 9.3, Problem 19E

To determine

The width of the screen of television to the nearest inch

Answer to Problem 19E

  $width=36inches$

Explanation of Solution

Given:

The length of diagonal of television screen = 42 inch

The height of television screen = 21 inch

Calculation:

As the screen is right angled at the height, we can find the width of the screen by Pythagoras Theorem:

The length of diagonal of television screen i.e. hypotenuse (c) = 42 inch

The height of television screen (a) = 21 inch

Using Pythagoras Theorem,

  $\begin{array}{l}{c}^2=a^2+b^2\\ {\left(42\right)}^2={\left(21\right)}^2+{\left(b\right)}^2\\ 1764=441+{\left(b\right)}^2\\ 1764-441={\left(b\right)}^2\\ 1323={\left(b\right)}^2\\ b=\sqrt{1323}\\ b=36.37inches\\ width=36inches\end{array}$

Hence, the width of the television screen is 36 inches