how can i find out the length and width of something if i only have the diagonal measurement?

Question

one diagonal is 72 and the other 96..please help!! thanks

just to clarify...the two diagonals dont cross..im going to buy a projection screen..and i have two options...and those are two options but i was only given the diagonals of eac screen but i need to know the length and width of each to make an informed decision. thanks

Answer 1

From one diagonal only the length and breadth can not be found out. If the diagonal is of a square one side can be calculated.
If 72 is the diagonal of one square,
the side of that square = √(72^2/2)=50.91 units...Ans
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If 96 is the diagonal of next square,
the side of that square = √(96^2/2)=67.88 units ...Ans
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If 72 and 96 are the diagonals of the same geometric figure, and if it is a rhombus(all sides are equal) one side of the rhombus can be calculated using the formula:
a = √[(D/2)^2 +(d/2)^2]
= √[(96/2)^2 + (72/2)^2]
= √[(48^2+36^2)]
= √(2304+1296)
= √3600
=60 units ...Ans
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Answer 2

You can't with only the diagonal, why do you give 2?

Answer 3

I think you need to know the angles of the diagonals when they cross.