Question

Two poles of different heights are used for a climbing event and need to be secured to the ground using wires. The shorter pole is 6.0 m tall and the wire is secured 8.0 m from the base of the pole. If wire of the taller pole is 16.0 m long. Determine the height of the taller pole

Answer 1

12.8 m.

Explanation:

The length of the wire on the shorter pole (AC)

= √(6^2+8^2)

= √100

= 10 m.

The 2 triangles are similar so

10/16 = 8/x where x is height of taller pole.

10x = 128

x = 12.8m