Question

A man standing near the base of a tower shouts to a woman on the top of the tower. The height of the tower is known, as is the man’s distance from the base of the tower. How far away is he from the woman, denoted by the blue line in the picture below? Do not simplify any radicals. The picture below is not drawn to scale.

Answer 1

You have a right triangle so you know that the Pythagorean theorem applies
Pythagorean Theorem
\[A^2+B^2=C^2\]
Where C is assumed to be the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Answer 2

Solve your triangle for the value you do not have. In your case it is the longest side, which is the hypotenuse and we know C is the hypotenuse so you are solving for C.

Answer 3

So, A=20 and B= 30?

Answer 4

Correct

Answer 5

\[(20)^2+(30)^2 = C^2\]
Solve for C

Answer 6

thanks guys.

Answer 7

My pleasure