Sam J.

asked • 12/11/17

If CLARINET is a regular octagon with a side length of 2, what is the length of (segment) IT?

Help! I need help with this math question and I can't figure it out...

1 Expert Answer

By:

Timothy W. answered • 12/11/17

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Sketch a picture. You'll see that INET is a trapezoid in which NE = 2. You'll also see that IN and ET are also 2, and form isosceles right triangles on either side of a rectangle. You can use the Pythagorean Theorem to figure out the length of the legs of the triangles, and then add those lengths to the other side of the square.
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Sam J.

Alright, but then how I use it to find the length of IT if ET is 2 and the base is 2(since you said it was a square that formed between the two right triangles, so the opposing sides should also be 2 correct?), how would I use the Pythagorean theorem because doesn't the hypotenuse have to be greater than the base? Also have the same problem with IN  
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12/11/17

Timothy W.

Sorry, error on my part. The "squarish" part between the two isosceles right triangles is not really a square. It's a rectangle where two of the sides are 2, and the other two sides can be found by solving the equation x^2+x^2=2^2.
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12/11/17

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