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there are two parallel guy wires that connect to the side of a building as shown in the figure below . find the length of f each wire . round to the nearest inch.

there are two parallel guy wires that connect to the side of a building as shown in-example-1
User Alex Falke
by
5.6k points

1 Answer

3 votes

To solve this we have to apply the Pythagorean theorem.

c^2= a^2+b^2

Where c is the hypotenuse of a right triangle (the longest side) and a and b are the other legs of the triangle.

Each of the triangles is mission their hypotenuse (c) so:

Smaller triangle (shortest wire)

c1^2 = 10^2+8^2

Solving for c1

c1^2 = 100+64

c1^2= 164

c1=√164

c1= 12.1

For the second triangle the sides are:

a2= 6+10= 16

Since both triangles are proportional

a1/b1= a2/b2

10/8 = 16/b2

Solving for b2

b2= 16/(10/8)

b2= 12.8

Back with the original formula for triangle 2:

c2^2= a2^2+b2^2

c2^2= 16^2+12.8^2

c2^2= 256+163.84

c2^2= 419.84

c2=√419.84

c2= 20.6

The shortest wire is 12.10 and the longest wire is 20.6

Option B.

User OmniOwl
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