How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (2024)

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Example Questions

GRE Math Help » Geometry » Plane Geometry » Quadrilaterals » Squares » How to find the length of the diagonal of a square

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Square

If a square has a side length of 4, how long is the diagonal of the square?

Possible Answers:

8√2

4

2√2

4√2

16

Correct answer:

4√2

Explanation:

A diagonal divides a square into two 45-45-90 triangles, which have lengths adhering to the ratio of x: x: x√2. Therefore,4√2 is the correct answer as the diagonal represents the hypotenuse of the triangle. the Pythagorean theorem can also be used: 42+ 42 = c2.

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Example Question #1371 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

If a square has a side length of√2, how long is the diagonal of the square?

Possible Answers:

4-√2

2√2

4

4√2

2

Explanation:

A diagonal divides a square into two 45-45-90 triangles, which have lengths adhering to the ratio of x: x: x√2. Therefore,2 is the correct answer as the diagonal represents the hypotenuse of the triangle. the Pythagorean theorem can also be used: √22+ √22= c2.

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Example Question #1372 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

A square has a side of length 5. What is the length of its diagonal?

Possible Answers:

10√3

10

5√3

5

5√2

Correct answer:

5√2

Explanation:

The diagonal separates the square into two 45-45-90 right triangles. The problem can be solved by using the Pythagorean Theorem, a2 + b2 = c2. It can also be solved by recognizing the 45-45-90 special triangles, which have side ratios of x:x:x√2.

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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Square

A square with width ofHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (1) is inscribed in a circle. What is the total area inside the circle?

Possible Answers:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (2)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (3)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (4)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (5)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (6)

Correct answer:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (7)

Explanation:

We know that each side of the square is 6, so use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the diagonal of the square. The diagonal of the square is also the diameter of the circle.

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (8)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (9)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (10)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (11)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (12)

Therefore the radius must beHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (13)

Now let's find the area inside the circle using the radius.

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (14)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (15)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (16)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (17)meters2

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Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Square

Quantity A:

The diagonal of a square with a side-length of How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (18).

Quantity B:

The side-length of a square with a diagonal of How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (19).

Possible Answers:

Quantity B is greater.

Both quantities are equal.

The relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined from the information given.

Quantity A is greater.

Correct answer:

Both quantities are equal.

Explanation:

Quantity A: The diagonal of a square with a side-length of 7.

Quantity B: The side-length of a square with a diagonal of 14.

Both quantities can be determined, so can the relationship.

Quantity A:

To determine the diagonal of a square, it's important to remember that a diagonal directly bisects a square from corner to corner. In other words, it bisects the corners, creatingtwo triangles with 45:45:90 proportions, with the diagonal serving as the hypotenuses . If you remember your special triangles, then the side-side-hypotenuse measurements have a ratio ofHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (20).

In Quantity A, the side-length is 7. Following the proportion:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (21)

The diagonalequalsHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (22).

Quantity B:

We can use the same ratio to figure out quantity B by substituting x for the unknown side-length quantity, which looks like this:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (23)

To find x in this ratio,just isolate x in the hypotenuse:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (24)

Divide byHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (25)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (26)

Now, how does Quantity A and Quantity B match up?

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (27)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (28)

On the surface, it looks like the two quanties are equal. But how do we prove it? Well, we know thatHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (29). Therefore, we know that:

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (30)

Divide both sides byHow to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (31)

How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (32)

Therefore, both quantities are equal.

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How to find the length of the diagonal of a square - GRE Math (2024)

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