Question

a mouse has made holes in opposite corners of a rectangular kitchen. the width of the kitchen is 3 meters and the distance between the mouses holes is 5 meters. what is the length of the kitchen? meters

Explanation:

Step1: Apply Pythagorean theorem

Let the length of the kitchen be \( l \). According to the Pythagorean theorem \( a^{2}+b^{2}=c^{2} \), where \( a = 3\) (width), \( c = 5\) (diagonal), and \( b=l\) (length). So \( 3^{2}+l^{2}=5^{2}\).

Step2: Simplify the equation

\( 9 + l^{2}=25\). Then \( l^{2}=25 - 9\).

Step3: Calculate \( l^{2}\)

\( l^{2}=16\).

Step4: Find \( l\)

Take the square root of both sides. Since length is non - negative, \( l=\sqrt{16}\).

Answer:

4