largest equalateral triangle within a rectangle

Question

What is the largest equalateral triangle that I can cut from a rectangle piece of plywood that is 24" wide and 18" long?

Answer 1

sin 60° = 18 / s, where s = length of side

√3 / 2 = 18 / s

s √3 = 36

s = 20.78

 

Using the width of 18" as the height of the equilateral triangle, you could cut a triangle 20.78 inches on a side.