WAEC - Mathematics (2001 - No. 42)

The diagram shows a triangular prism of length 7cm. The right - angled triangle PQR is a cross section of the prism |PR| = 5cm and |RQ| = 3cm. What is the area of the cross-section?
4 cm2
6cm2
15cm2
20cm2
Explanation
In \(\Delta\) RQP, QR\(^2\) + QP\(^2\) = RP\(^2\)
3\(^2\) + QP\(^2\) = 5\(^2\)
QP\(^2\) = 5\(^2\) - 3\(^2\)
QP = \(\sqrt{16}\)
= 4 cm
\(\therefore\) Area = \(\frac{1}{2} \times base \times height\)
= \(\frac{1}{2} \times 3 \times 4\)
= 6 cm\(^2\)
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