Question

A tree is supported by a wire anchored in the ground 12 feet from it's base. The wire is 5 feet longer than the height that it reaches on the tree. Find the length of the wire.
The wire is ??? feet long

Answer 1

@Agent47

Answer 2

@im_thompson5910

Answer 3

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 4

use the pythagorean theorem.

Answer 5

what is that

Answer 6

solve

h^2 + 12^2 = (h+5)^2

for h

Answer 7

i got h^2+10h+25?

Answer 8

@jim_thompson5910

Answer 9

(h+5)^2

becomes

h^2+10h+25

so you're correct in that aspect

Answer 10

so

h^2 + 12^2 = (h+5)^2

turns into

h^2 + 144 = h^2 + 10h + 25

Answer 11

ok

Answer 12

so is that my answer

Answer 13

?

Answer 14

no, you want to find the value of h

once you find h, you can find h+5

Answer 15

ok so how do i do that

Answer 16

What do you see canceling in that last equation above?

Answer 17

h^2?

Answer 18

yes

Answer 19

ok so what's next

Answer 20

so we have 144 = 10h + 25

solve that for h

Answer 21

would it be 10h+169