Longer diagonal of a rhombus

CAT 2021 Slot 2 · QA · Medium · Geometry

If a rhombus has area 12 sq cm and side length 5 cm, then the length, in cm, of its longer diagonal is

  1. A.

    37+132\frac{\sqrt{37}+\sqrt{13}}{2}

  2. B.

    37+122\frac{\sqrt{37}+\sqrt{12}}{2}

  3. C.

    37+13\sqrt{37} + \sqrt{13}

  4. D.

    37+12\sqrt{37} + \sqrt{12}

Answer

C

Explanation

Let the diagonals be d1d_1 and d2d_2. Area = 12d1d2=12    d1d2=24\frac{1}{2} d_1 d_2 = 12 \implies d_1 d_2 = 24.

Side length s=5    (d12)2+(d22)2=52=25s = 5 \implies \left(\frac{d_1}{2}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{d_2}{2}\right)^2 = 5^2 = 25. d12+d22=100d_1^2 + d_2^2 = 100

Now: (d1+d2)2=d12+d22+2d1d2=100+48=148    d1+d2=148=237(d_1 + d_2)^2 = d_1^2 + d_2^2 + 2 d_1 d_2 = 100 + 48 = 148 \implies d_1 + d_2 = \sqrt{148} = 2\sqrt{37} (d1d2)2=d12+d222d1d2=10048=52    d1d2=52=213(d_1 - d_2)^2 = d_1^2 + d_2^2 - 2 d_1 d_2 = 100 - 48 = 52 \implies d_1 - d_2 = \sqrt{52} = 2\sqrt{13}

Adding both equations: 2d1=237+213    d1=37+132 d_1 = 2\sqrt{37} + 2\sqrt{13} \implies d_1 = \sqrt{37} + \sqrt{13}.

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