Question

Refer to the diagram of a sail shown here. The length of the luff is 4 times longer than the length of the foot of the sail. Find the length of the foot and the length of the luff. foot ft luff ft

Answer 1

foot = 5 ft

luff = 20 ft

Explanation:

In the picture attached, the diagram of the sail is shown. A right triangle is formed, where 50 ft² is its area, which can be computed as follows:

foot*luff*1/2 = 50

We also know that luff = 4*foot. Replacing into the previous equation:

foot*(foot*4)*1/2 = 50

foot²*2 = 50

foot² = 50/2

foot = √25

foot = 5 ft

luff = 4*5 = 20 ft