document.write( "Question 255408: two vertical poles have heights 4 m and 12 m a rope is stretched from the top of each pole to the bottom o fthe otehr how far above the ground do the ropes cross? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #187671 by scott8148(6628) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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picture the 4m pole standing at the origin, running up the y-axis\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the 12m pole is standing on the x-axis, A meters away\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the slope of the line from the bottom of 4m to the top of 12m is 12/A
\n" ); document.write( "___ the y-intercept is 0
\n" ); document.write( "___ the equation is y = 12x / A\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the slope of the line from the top of 4m to the bottom of 12m is -4/A
\n" ); document.write( "___ the y-intercept is 4
\n" ); document.write( "___ the equation is y = -4x / A + 4\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "to find the intersection ___ 12x / A = -4x / A + 4 ___ 16x / A = 4 ___ 16x = 4A ___ 4x = A\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "substituting ___ y = 12x / 4x = 3\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the height of the intersection is 3m \n" ); document.write( "

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