SOLUTION: Pat and Chris were out in their row boat one day, and Chris spied a water lily. Knowing that Pat liked a mathmatical challenge, Chris announced that, with the help of the plant, it

Question 147048: Pat and Chris were out in their row boat one day, and Chris spied a water lily. Knowing that Pat liked a mathmatical challenge, Chris announced that, with the help of the plant, it was possible to calculate the depth of the water under the boat. When pulled taut, the top of the plant was origionally 10 inches above the water surface. While Pat held the top of the plant, which remained rooted to the lake bottom, Chris gently rode the boat 5 feet. This forced Pat's hand to the water surface. Use this information to calculate the depth of the water.

(I tried finding the depth but I didn't know how to get the lengths. I know it has something to do with a triangle.
Answer by iNeed(3) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Yes, you are right it does have to do with a triangle.
By the way. Orginoally is spelled wrong. Orginally.
Here's water surface ------------------------------------------------
The water lily plants was 10 inches above it so. Imangine this:
I <-water lily
I
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris then rode the boat 5 feet, As i imangine they are in the middle. Chris would go 5 feet away from the lily.
I
I
V <- Chris and Pat.
----------------------------------------------------------------<-water surface.
So. If this forced Pat ( person holding the lily that was still remained rooted to the depth.) to touch the water.
It would look like. _______________________ <- 5feet.
A triangle. with the .. I <- 10 inches. .
I .
________________________I____________________.________________<-water surface.
. . . .
So evuantally(sp?) you will get a triangle, and then, you get the equation of the Pythagorean Theorem. which. a=10inches. and b=60. so.
a(squared)+ b(squared)=c(squared).
You can do the rest?
100+360=c(squared).
460=c(squared)
somewhere around 21.45. is the depth . I think.
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