Final answer:
The question seems to deal with finding the distance from the base of the Zilker Park Christmas Tree to where each light strand is attached. Using the Pythagorean theorem and given measurements, the calculated distance is 54 ft, which wasn't present in the provided options, suggesting a possible mistake in the question or options.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around finding the distance from the base of the Zilker Park Christmas Tree at which each strand of lights is attached. Since the tree is 155 ft tall and the strands are 189 ft long, we assume the tree forms a cone shape and calculate the distance from the base of the cone to the point where the strand touches the ground.
We need to use the Pythagorean theorem here, which applies to right triangles. The tree height forms one side of the triangle (155 ft), the strand of lights is the hypotenuse (189 ft), and we want to find the length of the base of the triangle, which is the distance from the base of the tree to where the strand is attached to the ground.
The formula derived from the Pythagorean theorem is: base² + height² = hypotenuse². Applying the values we have: base² + 155² = 189². We need to find the base² value. Let's do the math:
- 155² = 24025
- 189² = 35721
- base² = 35721 - 24025
- base² = 11696
- base = √11696
- base = 108 ft
However, since the light strands are attached in the middle of its length while touching the ground, the distance from the base of the tree is half of that length. Therefore, distance from base = 108 ft / 2 = 54 ft. This is not one of the options provided, which indicates there may be a mistake in the question or the given options.