A football field is 100 yards long and 50 yards wide. How do you find the length of a diagonal of the football field?

2 Answers
Feb 13, 2016

#100^2 + 50^2 = 12500#; #sqrt12500 = 111.80# yards

Explanation:

A football field is a rectangle, so a diagonal line creates 2 right triangles. The formula for the length of the sides of a right triangle is #a^2 + b^2 = c^2"# For this problem, we know #a# and #b#, so we just have to find #c#.

#100^2 + 50^2 = c^2 = 12500#

The length of the diagonal is #sqrt12500#, which is 111.80 yards.

Feb 13, 2016

∼112 yards

Explanation:

Pythagorean Theorem: the diagonal of the football field is the hypotenuse. Let´s say the diagonal is C and the two other sides are A and B.

Width = A
Length = B
Diagonal = C

so: #a^2 + b^2 = c^2#

#50^2 + 100^2 = c^2#
#2500+10000= c^2#
#12500 = c^2#
#c=sqrt12500#

#c= 111.80# yards