Question

The model below, the anchor of a guy-wire is 16 feet away from the telephone pole. John puts a 5 foot pole under the guy-wire parallel to the telephone pole (see image below).

John knows the distance he put his pole from the anchor, which is labeled X. John says he can use similar triangles to calculate the height of where the guy-wire meets the telephon
ble.
o you agree with John's statement that he can prove similarity if we know side x? Provide mathematical justification.
h
5 ft
16 ft
В І у

Answer 1

Yes, because the two triangles share common segments.