Question

The diagonalof a rectangle is 25 inches. The width is 15 inches. What is the area of the rectangle?

Answer 1

Hey there! I'm not sure what method your teacher would be looking for but my first thought would be using the Pythagorean theorem! 

a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Where a and b are the legs while c is the hypotenuse

In this case the diagonal would be the hypotenuse so you could plug that in for c and the width is one of the legs so you can plug that in too.
a^2 + 15^2 = 25^2

Then 
a^2 +225 = 625

Then 
a^2 = 400

Then 
a = 20

Now you know the width and length (15 and 20). So you can multiply both of them to get the area. So you answer is 300!!! 

I hope that helps! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

- mathwizzard3