SOLUTION: Hi, I am not understanding how to work this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! A string it streched from the floor up to the top of a tower. The string is 10 fee

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Question 149835: Hi, I am not understanding how to work this problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!
A string it streched from the floor up to the top of a tower. The string is 10 feet long. The height of the tower is 2ft greater than the distance d from the towers base to the end of the string. Find the distance d and the height of the tower. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Answer by nerdybill(7384) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let d = distance from the tower's base to the end of the string
d+2 = height of tower
.
d^2 + (d+2)^2 = 10^2
d^2 + (d^2+4d+4) = 100
2d^2 + 4d + 4 = 100
2d^2 + 4d - 96 = 0
d^2 + 2d - 48 = 0
factoring:
(d-6)(d+8) = 0
.
d = {-8, 6}
.
Since a negative answer doesn't make sense it must be:
d = 6 feet
d+2= 8 feet (height of tower)