Question

Help??

A tree struck by lightning broke at a point 12 feet above the ground.
What was the height of the tree to the nearest tenth of a foot?
Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

The tree is 52.8 feet, since the hypotenuse is only part of the tree, you have to add 12, since then it would equal the total height of the tree.

a^2+b^2=c^2
12^2+ 39^2=c^2
144+1521= 1665
√1665
= 40.8

40.8 + 12
= 52.8 feet

Answer 2

height of the tree was 52.8 feet

Explanation:

Height of the tree will be determined by adding broken part of the tree, lying on the ground (as the hypotenuse of the triangle) and the remaining part of the stem.

Now we apply Pythagoras theorem in the right angle triangle with the sides as 12 feet and 39 feet

⇒ Hypotenuse² = Base² + Height²

⇒ Hypotenuse² = 12² + 39²

⇒ Hypotenuse² = 144 + 1521 = 1665

⇒ Hypotenuse = √1665

= 40.80 feet

Now height of the tree = 12 + 40.8

= 52.8 feet

Therefore, height of the tree was 52.8 feet