RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015
Non Nursing Subjects
Hard

One side of a rectangle is 40 metres and its diagonal is 50 metres. Find the perimeter of this rectangle.

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Kolkata-2015

Explanation

  • The diagonal of a rectangle forms a right-angled triangle with two of its sides (length and width).
  • The Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) is used to find the length of the unknown side. Given one side as 40 m and the diagonal (hypotenuse) as 50 m, the other side is calculated to be 30 m.
  • The calculation is: 40² + b² = 50² → 1600 + b² = 2500 → b² = 900 → b = 30 m.
  • The perimeter of a rectangle is found using the formula P = 2 × (length + width).
  • Substituting the side lengths: P = 2 × (40 m + 30 m) = 2 × 70 m = 140 m.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: This value is incorrect. It may result from a calculation error, such as incorrectly applying the perimeter formula, perhaps by adding the diagonal into the perimeter calculation in some way.
  • Option C: This value represents only the sum of the length and width (40 m + 30 m = 70 m). The formula for the perimeter requires this sum to be multiplied by 2.
  • Option D: This value is the sum of the given side and the diagonal (40 m + 50 m = 90 m). The diagonal is not part of the perimeter of a rectangle.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
  • Visual 1: Diagram - A rectangle with its length labeled as 40 m, its width labeled as 30 m, and a dotted line representing the diagonal labeled as 50 m. This helps visualize the right-angled triangle within the rectangle.
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Calculating the perimeter of a rectangle using the Pythagorean theorem as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • This question tests basic mathematical aptitude and problem-solving skills, which are essential components of the non-nursing sections of nursing entrance examinations.
  • Strong foundational math skills are necessary for various nursing tasks, including medication dosage calculations, fluid balance monitoring, and interpreting graphical data from patient monitors.
  • What if the question gave the area and one side? If the area was 1200 m² and one side was 40 m, you would find the other side by dividing the area by the known side (1200 / 40 = 30 m), and then calculate the perimeter as 2 * (40 + 30) = 140 m.
How to Approach the Question
  • Step 1: Identify the given information in the problem: the length of one side of a rectangle (40 m) and the length of its diagonal (50 m).
  • Step 2: Recognize that the two sides of the rectangle and its diagonal form a right-angled triangle.
  • Step 3: Apply the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) to find the length of the unknown side ('b'), where 'a' is the known side and 'c' is the diagonal.
  • Step 4: Solve the equation for the unknown side: b = √(c² - a²).
  • Step 5: Once you have the lengths of both sides, use the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle: P = 2 × (length + width).
  • Step 6: Calculate the final value and select the matching option.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Calculating the perimeter of a rectangle using the Pythagorean theorem.
  • Stem keywords: rectangle, side, diagonal, perimeter
  • Lead-in keywords: Find

Question ID

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