SOLUTION: . A pole is broken 3.5 ft above the level ground. The top of the pole strikes the ground 8 ft from the foot of the pole, while the other end of the broken part remains attached. Ho

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: . A pole is broken 3.5 ft above the level ground. The top of the pole strikes the ground 8 ft from the foot of the pole, while the other end of the broken part remains attached. Ho      Log On


   

Question 1194558: . A pole is broken 3.5 ft above the level ground. The top of the pole strikes the ground 8 ft from the foot of the pole, while the other end of the broken part remains attached. How high is the pole?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
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A pole is broken 3.5 ft above the level ground.
The top of the pole strikes the ground 8 ft from the foot of the pole, while the other end of the broken part remains attached.
How high is the pole?
:
Find the length of the part of the pole that strikes the ground 8' away.
It is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with a base of 8' and a height of 3.5'
Using pythag"
h = sqrt%288%5E2%2B3.5%5E2%29
h = 8.73 ft
therefore
3.5 + 8.73 = 12.73 ft is the original height of the pole