SOLUTION: A kite is flying on 50 ft. of string. Its vertical distance from the ground is 10 ft. more than its horizontal distance from the person flying it. Assuming that the string is bei

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Question 39692This question is from textbook college algebra
: A kite is flying on 50 ft. of string. Its vertical distance from the ground is 10 ft. more than its horizontal distance from the person flying it. Assuming that the string is being held at ground level, find its horizontal distance from the person and its vertical distance from the ground. This question is from textbook college algebra

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A kite is flying on 50 ft. of string. Its vertical distance from the ground is 10 ft. more than its horizontal distance from the person flying it. Assuming that the string is being held at ground level, find its horizontal
Draw the picture. You have a right triangle with hypotenuse
= 50 ft., height is x+10 and horizontal distance is x.
EQUATION:
50^2=x^2+(x+10)^2
2500=x^2+(x^2+20x+100)
2x2+20x-2400=0
x^2+10x-1200=0
(x+40)(x-30)=0
x=30 (Horizontal distance)
Cheers,
Stan H.
Ch