Question

A. two poles of heights m and n are separated by a horizontal distance d. a rope is stretched from the top of one pole to the ground and then to the top of the other pole. show that the configuration that requires the least amount of rope occurs when .

Answer 1

The configuration that requires the least amount of rope occurs when the rope is stretched horizontally between the tops of the two poles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The configuration that requires the least amount of rope occurs when the rope is stretched horizontally between the tops of the two poles. This configuration forms a straight line between the two poles, creating a right triangle with the ground. In this configuration, the total length of the rope is equal to the horizontal distance between the poles, which is d.

Other configurations, such as angling the rope downward or upward, would require longer lengths of rope. For example, if the rope is angled downward, it would form an acute triangle with the ground, resulting in a longer length of rope.

Therefore, the configuration that requires the least amount of rope is when the rope is stretched horizontally between the two poles.