Question 862718: An 18-foot pole is broken during a storm. The top of the pole touches the ground 12 feet from the base of the pole. How tall is the part of the pole left standing?
Found 2 solutions by mananth, josgarithmetic:
Answer by mananth(16946)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! let the erect part of the pole be x
the slanted part of the pole will be 18-x
the ground distance = 12
they form a right triangle
apply Pythagoras theorem
12^2+x^2=(18-x)^2
144+x^2=324-36x+x^2
36x=324-144
36x=180
x=180/36
x=5 feet
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! You want a well-worked, solved problem, but maybe you can do this if you recognize that:
The hypotenuse PLUS the vertical-pointing leg is 18 feet, and the leg on the ground is 12 feet. You can say, y is the vertical leg, c is the hypotenuse, and therefore y+c=18. Also, recognize that this forms a right triangle (yes, see the use of term, "hypotenuse") so you can use Pythagorean Theorem.
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