The diagonal length of a rectangle measuring 12 ft by 16 ft is 20 ft.

The diagonal length of a rectangle measuring 12 ft by 16 ft is 20 ft.

• A. 18 ft
• B. 20 ft
• C. 25 ft
• D. 27 ft

Answer: (B)

The diagonal of a rectangle is the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the two sides. Use the Pythagorean theorem: d^2 = 12^2 + 16^2. Compute 12^2 = 144 and 16^2 = 256, sum = 400, so d = sqrt(400) = 20. This also matches the 3-4-5 triangle scaled by 4, since 12:16:20 corresponds to 3:4:5 times 4. Therefore the diagonal length is 20 ft.

The diagonal of a rectangle is the hypotenuse of a right triangle formed by the two sides. Use the Pythagorean theorem: d^2 = 12^2 + 16^2. Compute 12^2 = 144 and 16^2 = 256, sum = 400, so d = sqrt(400) = 20. This also matches the 3-4-5 triangle scaled by 4, since 12:16:20 corresponds to 3:4:5 times 4. Therefore the diagonal length is 20 ft.