Question

A construction crew is cutting down a 90-foot utility pole. If they cut the pole 30 feet up from the ground and it falls to rest as shown, how far from the base of the pole is the point where the top of the utility pole touches the ground? Round to the nearest foot

Picture attached

Answer 1

51.96 (real answer) but then 52 ft is the rounded up answer

Explanation:

1) Subtract 30 from 90 because that is the fallen or chopped off part of the pole.

2) Use Pythagorean theorem.

3) 30 squared + x squared = 60 squared

4) 900 + x squared = 3600

5) subtract 900 from 3600 = 2700

6) Get the square root of 2700 which is 51.96....

7) Round up to 52 feet because your teacher wanted you to round to the nearest foot.