SOLUTION: A giant California redwood 36 meters tall cracked in a violent storm and fell as if hinged. The tip of the once beautiful tree hit the ground 24 meters from the base. Researcher Re

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Question 557669: A giant California redwood 36 meters tall cracked in a violent storm and fell as if hinged. The tip of the once beautiful tree hit the ground 24 meters from the base. Researcher Red Woods wishes to investigate the crack. How many meters from the base of the tree does he have to climb?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Call the height above ground where the crack was +x+ meters
The broken tree and the distance to the tip on the ground form
a right triangle.
The hypotenuse is +36+-+x+ meters
The sides are +x+, and +24+
+x%5E2+%2B+24%5E2+=+%28+36+-+x+%29%5E2+
+x%5E2+%2B+24%5E2+=+36%5E2+-+72x+%2B+x%5E2+
+24%5E2+=+36%5E2+-+72x+
+72x+=+1296+-+576+
+72x+=+720+
+x+=+10+
He has to climb 10 meters
check answer:
+10%5E2+%2B+24%5E2+=+%28+36+-+10+%29%5E2+
+100+%2B+576+=+26%5E2+
+676+=+676+
OK