SOLUTION: a guy wire on a cell phone tower is 130 ft long and is attached to the top of the tower. The height of the tower is 70ft longer than the distance from the point on the ground wher

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: a guy wire on a cell phone tower is 130 ft long and is attached to the top of the tower. The height of the tower is 70ft longer than the distance from the point on the ground wher      Log On


   

Question 325205: a guy wire on a cell phone tower is 130 ft long and is attached to the top of the tower. The height of the tower is 70ft longer than the distance from the point on the ground where the wire is attached to the bottom of the tower. Find the height of the tower?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A guy wire on a cell phone tower is 130 ft long and is attached to the top of the tower.
The height of the tower is 70ft longer than the distance from the point on the ground where the wire is attached to the bottom of the tower.
Find the height of the tower?
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Draw the picture.
You should have a right triangle with base = x, hypotenuse = 130
and height = x+70.
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Equation:
x^2 + (x+70)^2 = 130^2
x^2 + x^2 + 140x + 70^2 = 130^2
2x^2 + 140x - 12000 = 0
x^2 + 70x - 6000 = 0
(x-50)(x+120) = 0
Positive solution:
x = 50 ft (base)
x+70 = 120 ft(tower)
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Cheers,
Stan H.