SOLUTION: A flagpole has a height of 10 yards. It will be supported by three cables, each of which is attached to the flagpole at a point 4 yards below the top of the pole and attached to th

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Question 949769: A flagpole has a height of 10 yards. It will be supported by three cables, each of which is attached to the flagpole at a point 4 yards below the top of the pole and attached to the ground at a point that is 8 yards from the base of the pole. Find the total number of yards of cable that will be required.
Answer by macston(5194) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The cable is the hypotenuse(c) of a right triangle with height (a)=(10 yd-4yds)=6 yds, base (b)=(distance from flag pole)=8 yds
c=sqrt%28a%5E2%2Bb%5E2%29
c=sqrt%286%5E2yds%5E2%2B8%5E2yds%5E2%29
c=sqrt%2836yds%5E2%2B64yds%5E2%29
c=sqrt%28100yds%5E2%29=10+yds
And since there are three support cables 3(10 yds)=30 yds total cable is needed.
ANSWER: A total of 30 yards of cable will be required.