An 18-foot pole broke during a storm. The top of the pole touched the ground 12 feet from the base of the pole. How tall is the part of the pole left standing
+128707 Let x be the length that broke off. The part left standing = 18-x
And we have a right triangle.......using the Pytagorean Theorem, we have
12^2 + (18 - x)^2 = x^2 simplify
144 + x^2 - 36x + 324 = x^2
468 = 36x divide both sides by 36
13 = x
So.....the part left standing = (18 - x) = (18 - 13) = 5 ft
