Question

In the figure, two poles are 15 m and 30 m high. A cable 16 m long joins the tops of the poles. Find the distance between the poles. The distance between the poles is m.

Answer 1

The problem is equivalent to 1 pole with zero height and 1 pole with a height of 15 m

From the Pythagorean theorem

x^2 + 15^2 = 16^2

x = (256 - 225)^1/2 = 5.57 m