GMAT Math : DSQ: Calculating the length of the diagonal of a rectangle
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Example Questions
Example Question #63 : Quadrilaterals
What is the length of the diagonal of rectangle 
(1)
(2) 
Statement 1 alone is sufficient
Statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient
Each statement alone is sufficient
Both statements together are sufficient
Statement 2 alone is sufficient
Statement 2 alone is sufficient
In order to find the diagonal, we must know the sides of the rectangle or know whether the triangles ADC or ABD have special angles.
Statement 1 alone doesn't let us calculate the hypothenuse of the triangles, because we only know one side.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient because it allows us to find all angles of the triangles inside of the rectangle. We can see that they are special triangles with angles 30-60-90. Any triangle with these angles will have its sides in ratio 
Hence, statement 2 is sufficient.
Example Question #1 : Rectangles
Rectangle 
I) The diagonal of 
II) The length of one side is 
Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.
Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements together are needed to answer the question.
Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.
Either statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but Statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.
I) Gives us the length of ASOF's diagonal. This by itself does not give us any way of finding the other sides.
II) Gives us one side length. From there we can use the perimeter to find the other side length and then the area.
Therefore, Statement II is sufficient to answer the question.
Example Question #2 : Rectangles
Rectangle 
(1) Angle 
(2) 
Statement 2 alone is sufficient.
Statements 1 and 2 together are not sufficient.
Both statements together are sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient.
Both statements together are sufficient.
The length of a diagonal of a rectangle can be calculated like a hypotenuse using the Pythagorean Theorem provided we have information about the lengths of the rectangle.
Statement 1 tells us that both triangles ADC and ABD have their angles in ratio 
Statment 2 tells us that side AC is 1. From there we can't conclude anything. Indeed, rectangle ABCD might as well be a square or a very thin rectangle, we don't know.
Both statements together however, allow us to tell that 
Hence, both statements together are sufficient.
Example Question #2337 : Gmat Quantitative Reasoning
(1) 
(2) 
Both statements together are sufficient.
Each statement alone is sufficient.
Statement 1 alone is sufficient.
Statement 1 and 2 together are not sufficient.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient.
Statement 2 alone is sufficient.
To solve this, we need information about the lengths of the sides or to whether triangles ADB and ACD are special triangles.
Statement 1 tells us that CDA has length 3. This is not enough and we still don't know whether the rectangle is of a special type of rectangle.
Statement 2 tells us that triangles ADB and ACD are special triangles, indeed, they have their angles in ratio 
Therefore, statement 2 alone is sufficient.
Example Question #3 : Dsq: Calculating The Length Of The Diagonal Of A Rectangle
Find the diagonal of rectangle 
I) The area of 
II) The perimeter of 
Either statement is sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements are needed to answer the question.
Statement I is sufficient to answer the question, but statement II is not sufficient to answer the question.
Neither statement is sufficient to answer the question. More information is needed.
Statement II is sufficient to answer the question, but statement I is not sufficient to answer the question.
Both statements are needed to answer the question.
In order to find the diagonal of a rectangle we need the length of both sides.
We can't find the lengths with just the area or just the perimeter, but by using them both together we can make a small system of equations with two unknowns and two equations.
Then we can solve for each side and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find our diagonal.
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