A zip line runs from the top of a platform on the edge of a pond to the ground across the pond. A camp counselor places a mirror on the edge of the pond across from the platform and stands back until the top of the platform is visible in the mirror.
Find the length of the zip line. (Round your answer to the nearest foot.) ft
Please help!! I really would like to understand a well written explaination. The textbook is very vauge and I already struggle enough.
I started with this proportion solution but I know that this is only finding the height.
4/200=6/x
4x/4=1200/4
x=300
Now I am confused with the Pythagorean Theorem portion to find the length. Or am I just overly confusing and combining random formulas? HELP!!!
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
6^2 + 4^2= 52
c^2= 52 or 2√13
+15001 Find the length of the zip line. (Round your answer to the nearest ft.)
Hello Guest!
You calculated correctly. The height of the tower is 300 ft.
Now follows Pythagoras:
\(z^2=200^2ft^2+300^2ft^2\\ z=\sqrt{(200^2+300^2)ft^2}\\ z=\sqrt{(130\ 000)ft^2}\\ \color{blue}z=360.555ft\)
The length of the zip line is 361ft.
!
