SOLUTION: A 20m pole is struck by lightning and, while not completely broken, falls over and touches the ground 12m from the bottom of the pole. How high up did the pole break? i cant

Question 32733: A 20m pole is struck by lightning and, while not completely broken, falls over and touches the ground 12m from the bottom of the pole. How high up did the pole break? i cant figure this one out.. please help me.. i'm trying to help out some classmates, and i cant
Answer by checkley71(8403) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x~2=(20-x)~2+12~2 or x~2=400-40x+x~2+144 or cancelling out the x~2 we get 400-40x+144=0 or 544-40x=0 or 40x=544 or x=544/40 or 13.6m is the fallen part therefore the the break was 20-13.6m or 6.4m from the ground
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