Final answer:
To find the width of the cooling tower at the base, substitute 'y' with 0 in the given equation and solve for 'x'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation given, x^2/289 - (y-70)^2/1600 = 1, represents the walls of the cooling tower. To find the width of the cooling tower at the base, we need to find the value of 'x' when 'y' is equal to 0. Plugging in 'y = 0' into the equation, we get x^2/289 - 70^2/1600 = 1. Solving for 'x' will give us the width of the cooling tower at the base. Round the answer to the nearest whole number.