A tree originally 36 feet high was broken by a storm so that its top just touched the ground 12 feet from the base of the tree. How much of the tree is left standing?
Please explain!
2007-03-08 01:17:26 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The tree is now forming a triangle with the ground. The trunk and the ground form a right angle, so we can find the height of the tree left standing using the Pythagorean theorem.
Let x be the height of the tree left standing, and (36-x) the length of the tree that is broken and touching the ground.
(12)² + x² = (36 - x)²
144 + x² = 1296 - 72x + x²
144 = 1296 - 72x
72x = 1296 - 144 = 1152
x = 1152/72 = 16 feet of the tree left standing
2007-03-08 01:23:27 · answer #1 · answered by MamaMia © 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a² + b² = c²
12² + x² = (36-x)²
144 + x² = 1296 - 72x + x²
72x = 1152
x = 16
MamaMia, your "x" would be the hypotenuse, not the trunk of the tree.
2007-03-08 01:23:38 · answer #2 · answered by Dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋