Question

A builder makes drainpipes that drop 1cm over a horizontal distance of 30cm to prevent clogs. A certain drainpipe needs to cover a horizontal distance of 700cm.

What is length L of this drainpipe?

Answer 1

700.39cm

Explanation:

For a horizontal distance of 30cm, the drop is 1cm, now we need to get the drop for horizontal distance of 700 cm to maintain the same slope

Using the concept of cross multiplication

30cm=1 cm drop

700 cm=x

30x=700

X=700/30=70/3=23 ⅓

Utilizing pythagoras theorem, the length of pipe will be

L=√(23⅓)²+700²

L=700.38878092417 cm

Rounded off, the length is approximately 700.39 cm