SOLUTION: Two vertical poles are connected by a 16 meter rope. The poles are 11 meters and 18 meters tall. To the nearest tenth of a meter, how far apart are the poles? I have a diagram that

Algebra ->  Triangles -> SOLUTION: Two vertical poles are connected by a 16 meter rope. The poles are 11 meters and 18 meters tall. To the nearest tenth of a meter, how far apart are the poles? I have a diagram that      Log On


   

Question 1086465: Two vertical poles are connected by a 16 meter rope. The poles are 11 meters and 18 meters tall. To the nearest tenth of a meter, how far apart are the poles? I have a diagram that has the 16 meters on top and the 11m and 18m as sides of a right triangle.
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ikleyn(52750) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
"how far apart are the poles" = sqrt%2816%5E2+-+%2818-11%29%5E2%29 = sqrt%2816%5E2+-+7%5E2%29 = sqrt%28207%29 = 14.4 m.

They ask you about the leg of a right angled triangle, in which the length of the hypotenuse and the length of one leg are known.



Answer by josgarithmetic(39613) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x, distance apart

x%5E2%2B%2818-11%29%5E2=16%5E2
-

x%5E2%2B7%5E2=16%5E2
x%5E2=256-49
x%5E2=207
x=3%2Asqrt%2823%29
about 14.4 meters