A suitcase measures 24 inches long and the diagonal is 30 inches long. How much material is needed to cover one side of the suitcase?

Question

I just need the answer and really dont need to type this jut filling up required chacters.

Answer 1

The 2 sides of the suitcase are 18 inches and 24inches. Thus the total area needed is 18 x 24 = 432 sq inch

Answer 2

Twenty-four inches is the long leg of a right triangle and 30 is the hypotenuse.

 

If you had the length of the short leg, you could calculate the area of the side of the suitcase.

 

a² + b² = c²

 

If a = 24 and c = 30, you need to calculate b.

 

24² + b² = 30²

 

576 + b² = 900

 

b² = 324

 

b = 18

 

 

The area of one side is ab = (24)(18) = 432 square inches.

 

Incidentally, you have a 3, 4, 5 right triangle, where 3 and 4 are the lengths of the legs and 5 is the length of the hypotenuse.  If you multiply the dimensions by a number, you get another triple that satisfies the Pythagorean formula:  6 times 3, 4, 5 = 18, 24, 30.  If you notice the pattern, you can save time solving this kind of problem that you may need on other problems.

Answer 3

The problem describes the side of a (presumably) rectangular suitcase.  I suggest that you draw said rectangle, and label the parts that are given (lengths).  I observe that "Pythagorean Theorem" is mentioned.  Does this apply to the diagram that you've made? (Yes!).  You can find the missing length in a right triangle.  Then you'd know the rectangle's base & height, from which you can calculate the area of the rectangular side (____ inches squared).  That's how to solve this.