Question

Need help with this real world problem.
"A 65 foot rope hangs from the top of a pole. When pulled taut to it's fullest length the rope reaches a point on the ground 30 feet from the base of the pole. Find the height of the pole to the NEAREST TENTH of a foot. Let P equal the height of the pole. "Use the Pythagorean Theorem".
So far I have:
a^2+b^2=c^2
30^2+p^2=65^2
900+p^2=4,225
p^2=4,225-900
p^2=3,325
p= ??????
I can't seem to get that last part about finding the height of the pole to the nearest tenth of a foot.

Answer 1

Do you know what is 'tenth'?

Answer 2

No I don't. I just know that it needs to be put into a decimal form. I think? Not really sure at all. :\

Answer 3

Tenth is the first digit to the right of the decimal point.

Answer 4

57.6 (Truncating)

Answer 5

But how am I supposed to figure that out with 3,325? That is what confuses me. I can't figure out what P is unless I know how to turn 3,325 into a decimal. If that makes any sense?

Answer 6

just square root ur 3325

Answer 7

give u decimal answer

Answer 8

That would give me 11055625?

Answer 9

Like for example. I have this one
p^2 = 3844 - 961
p^2 = 2,883
p = 53.226 = 53.2

How did they come up with 53.226? I'm not that great with the whole square root thing.

Answer 10

calculator ur best pal in this situation