Rhombus Diagonals Difference

CAT 2025 Slot 1 · Quantitative Ability · Medium · Geometry

If the length of a side of a rhombus is 36 cm and the area of the rhombus is 396 sq. cm, then the absolute value of the difference between the lengths, in cm, of the diagonals of the rhombus is

Answer

60

Explanation

Let d1d_1 and d2d_2 be the lengths of the diagonals of the rhombus. Area of rhombus =12d1d2=396  ⟹  d1d2=792= \frac{1}{2} d_1 d_2 = 396 \implies d_1 d_2 = 792. Side a=36  ⟹  (d12)2+(d22)2=a2=362=1296a = 36 \implies \left(\frac{d_1}{2}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{d_2}{2}\right)^2 = a^2 = 36^2 = 1296. d12+d22=4×1296=5184d_1^2 + d_2^2 = 4 \times 1296 = 5184 We need ∣d1−d2∣|d_1 - d_2|: (d1−d2)2=d12+d22−2d1d2=5184−2(792)=5184−1584=3600(d_1 - d_2)^2 = d_1^2 + d_2^2 - 2 d_1 d_2 = 5184 - 2(792) = 5184 - 1584 = 3600 ∣d1−d2∣=3600=60|d_1 - d_2| = \sqrt{3600} = 60 Thus, the difference between the diagonal lengths is 60 cm.

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