Question

The diagonals of a rhombus are 16 and 18. What is the length of each side?

Answer 1

`sqrt((16/2)^2+(18/2)^2) = sqrt(145)`

Explanation:

Diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other and divide each other in half. Therefore, they divide a rhombus into four congruent right triangles with half-diagonals as catheti and rhombus sides as hypotenuses.

Therefore, we can apply a Pythagorean theorem to any of these right triangles to find a rhombus' side (a hypotenuse) by two half-diagonals (catheti).

Relatively complete description of rhombus properties can be found on UNIZOR by following menu items Geometry - Quadrangles - Rhombus.