Question

Given:

PQ
⊥
QR
, PR=20,
SR=11, QS=5
Find: The value of PS.

Answer 1

The answer to this would be PS = 13

Answer 2

The value of the side PS is 26 approx.

Explanation:

In this question we have two right triangles. Triangle PQR and Triangle PQS.

Where S is some point on the line segment QR.

Given:

PR = 20

SR = 11

QS = 5

We know that QR = QS + SR

QR = 11 + 5

QR = 16

Now triangle PQR has one unknown side PQ which in its base.

Finding PQ:

Using Pythagoras theorem for the right angled triangle PQR.

PR² = PQ² + QR²

PQ = √(PR² - QR²)

PQ = √(20²+16²)

PQ = √656

PQ = 4√41

Now for right angled triangle PQS, PS is unknown which is actually the hypotenuse of the right angled triangle.

Finding PS:

Using Pythagoras theorem, we have:

PS² = PQ² + QS²

PS² = 656 + 25

PS² = 681

PS = 26.09

PS = 26