a cable 16 m long runs from the top of a utility pole to a point on the ground 4 m from the base of the pole. how tall is the utility pole, to the nearest tenth

A. 15.5 m
B. 16.5 m
C. 256 m
D. 16 m

Question

a cable 16 m long runs from the top of a utility pole to a point on the ground 4 m from the base of the pole. how tall is the utility pole, to the nearest tenth

A. 15.5 m
B. 16.5 m
C. 256 m
D. 16 m

hotpinkgirl · Answer

@SolomonZelman please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

solomonzelman · Answer

|dw:1425326368609:dw|this is your triangle

solomonzelman · Answer

find the hypotenuse

solomonzelman · Answer

$\large\color{slate}{    a^2+b^2=c^2  }$  is the form that satisfies the side proportions in any right triangle (such as your triangle).

solomonzelman · Answer

if you have questions or need more assitance say so.

hotpinkgirl · Answer

thanks

mathstudent55 · Answer

You are looking for y.

$(4 ~m)^2 + y^2 = (16~m)^2$

Solve for y.

|dw:1425327458503:dw|

mathstudent55 · Answer

|dw:1425327665613:dw|

mathstudent55 · Answer

@HotPinkGirl 
You may want to look at this problem again.

solomonzelman · Answer

oh, right... how did I confuse that (?)
sorry