A carpenter is using a tool called a steel square, which has a shorter arm, known as a tongue, and a longer arm, known as a blade,

that are perpendicular. The distance from the end of the tongue to the end of the blade is referred to as the diagonal as shown.

If the length of the tongue is 16 inches and the length of the diagonal is 34 inches, what is the length of the blade?

30 inches

Step-by-step explanation:

The tongue, blade and diagonal form a right angled triangle. In solving this we make use of Pythagoras Theorem.

Length of Diagonal = 34 inches

Length of Tongue = 16 inches

Length of Blade = ?

(L of Diagonal) ² = (L of Tongue) ² + (L of Blade) ²

34² = 16² + (L of B) ²

1156 = 256 + (L of B) ²

1156 - 256 = (L of B) ²

900 = (L of B) ²

Square root both sides

30 = Length of Blade