Question

Two poles of heights 6 m and 11m stand on a plane ground. If the distance between the feet of the poles is 12m, find the distance between their tops.

Answer 1

Pole AB = 6 m. 

Pole CD = 11 m. 

Distance between poles BD = 12 m. 

Distance between feet of the poles, AC = ? 

ABDM is a rectangle, AB = MD = 6 m. 

BD = AM = 12 m. 

In ⊥∆AMC, ∠AMC = 90° 

AM = 12 m, CM = 5 m. AC = ? 

AC² = AM² + CM² 

= (12)² + (5)² 

= 144 + 25 

AC² = 169 

∴ AC = 13 m.