Please help me!!
A wire is needed to support a vertical pole 12 feet high. The cable will be anchored to a stake 8 feet from the base of the pole. How much cable is needed?

Question

Please help me!! 
A wire is needed to support a vertical pole 12 feet high. The cable will be anchored to a stake 8 feet from the base of the pole. How much cable is needed?

anonymous · Answer

I know there is an equation you can make for this but i am stumped!

radar · Answer

You have a right triangle, with one leg 12' and the other 8'.

solve for the hypotenuse.

radar · Answer

In the real world you would allow several more inches for fastening lol

anonymous · Answer

sooo  12x+8x=180 or something...

radar · Answer

$$\sqrt{12^{2}+8^{2}}$$  Thats one you should put in your memory bank.

anonymous · Answer

I know,, im soo horrible with math.. i really do hate the subject haha

radar · Answer

Right triangle, the longest side is called the hypotenuse and if the other two sides were labeled a and b here is the formula$$a ^{2}+b ^{2}=hypotenuse ^{2}$$

anonymous · Answer

Got it! Thanks!