Question

Use the image to answer the question.

A graph shows four quadrants with the x-axis and y-axis both ranging from negative 10 to positive 10 in increments of 1. Unlabeled points are plotted at left parenthesis negative 6 comma 8 right parenthesis, left parenthesis 4 comma 8 right parenthesis, left parenthesis 4 comma negative 3 right parenthesis, and left parenthesis negative 6 comma negative 3 right parenthesis. A straight line joins the four points forming a rectangle.

What is the length of the diagonal of the rectangle? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth, if necessary.

1 answer

To find the length of the diagonal of the rectangle formed by the points \((-6, 8)\), \((4, 8)\), \((4, -3)\), and \((-6, -3)\), we can use the distance formula for the diagonal between any two opposite corners.

We can use the points \((-6, 8)\) and \((4, -3)\) as the endpoints of the diagonal.

The distance formula is given by:

\[ d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} \]

For our points:

  • \(x_1 = -6\), \(y_1 = 8\)
  • \(x_2 = 4\), \(y_2 = -3\)

Substituting the coordinates into the formula:

\[ d = \sqrt{(4 - (-6))^2 + (-3 - 8)^2} \]

Calculating the differences:

\[ 4 - (-6) = 4 + 6 = 10 \] \[ -3 - 8 = -11 \]

Now substituting these values back into the equation:

\[ d = \sqrt{(10)^2 + (-11)^2} \]

Calculating the squares:

\[ d = \sqrt{100 + 121} \]

\[ d = \sqrt{221} \]

Now, we calculate \(\sqrt{221}\):

\[ \sqrt{221} \approx 14.8661 \]

Rounding to the nearest hundredth, we get:

\[ d \approx 14.87 \]

Thus, the length of the diagonal of the rectangle is approximately 14.87.