Question

Running from the top of a flagpole to a hook in the ground there is a rope that is 41 feet long. If the hook is 9 feet from the base of the flagpole, how tall is the flagpole?

Answer 1

The flagpole is 40 feet tall

Explanation:

You use the Pythagorean theorem to solve this problem.

The pythagorean theorem is: a^2+b^2 = C^2 or C^2 - B^2 = a^2

The rope is the hypotenuse, or C

The distance from the flagpole to the hook is the shortest leg, or a/b

41^2 - 9^2 = height of the flagpole

1681 - 81 = 1600

sqr.rt of 1600 = 40

The flagpole is 40 feet tall