Question:
Look at the picture of a scaffold used to support construction workers. The height of the scaffold can be changed by adjusting two slanting rods, one of which, labeled PR, is shown: Part A: What is the approximate length of rod PR? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth. Explain how you found your answer stating the theorem you used. Show all your work. (5 points)
B) The length of rod PR is adjusted to 16 feet. If width PQ remains the same, what is the approximate new height QR of the scaffold? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.
Answer:
A) 16.64 Feets
B) 7.65 feets
Explanation:
Given the following :
The question above can be solved by applying Pythagoras rule :
A^2 = B^2 + C^2
PR² = PQ² + QR²
PR² = 14² + 9²
PR² = 196 + 81
PR = √277
PR = 16.64feet
Now if PR is adjusted to 16 Feets, the New height of the scaffold will be:
QR² = PR² - PQ²
QR² = 16² - 14²
QR² = 256 - 196
QR² = 60
Take the Square root of both sides
QR = √60
QR = 7.7459666 Feets