To find the length of the diagonal of the rectangular prism, segment BE, we can use the Pythagorean theorem.
Let's consider triangle BEH. We know that the length of segment BH is 40 cm and the height of the prism (segment vertical perpendicular CD) is 44 cm.
Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can find the length of segment BE:
BE^2 = BH^2 + EH^2
BE^2 = 40^2 + 44^2
BE^2 = 1600 + 1936
BE^2 = 3536
Taking the square root of both sides, we find:
BE ≈ √3536
BE ≈ 59.34
Rounding to the nearest tenth, the length of the diagonal of the rectangular prism, segment BE, is approximately 59.3 cm.
Therefore, the correct answer is 59.5 cm.