Anne is pulling on a 60-foot rope attached to the top of a 48 foot tree while Walter is cutting the tree at its base. How far from the base of the tree is Anne standing?
2007-05-31 16:14:26 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
This is a very basic application of the Pythagoras theorem.
The rope, the tree and the ground form a right triangle in which the perpendicular = 48 ft and the hypotenuse = 60 ft. Let the distance between Anne and the base of the tree be x
By theorem,
x^2 + 48^2 = 60^2
x^2 + 2304 = 3600
x^2 = 3600 - 2304
x^2 = 1296
x = 36 (Taking square root of both sides)
Anne is 36 feet away from the base of the tree
2007-05-31 16:21:17 · answer #1 · answered by Akilesh - Internet Undertaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming she is lying on the ground ;-) ...It's a right triangle with leg 48 and hypotenuse 60. Obviously, this is a 3-4-5 so the answer is 36, but here's the calc.
x = (60^2 - 48^2)^0.5 = 36
Now if you assume she's not a lazy good-for-nothing and is holding the rope at a level 4ft above the base of the tree, then:
x = (60^2 - 44^2)^0.5 = ~40.8
This is what you get when you ask an engineer a math question.
2007-05-31 16:19:22 · answer #2 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's not to understand? Draw a picture, and you'll see you have a right triangle, with the hypotenuse (the rope) = 60 feet, and one side (the height of the tree) = 48 feet. The distance from Anne to the tree is x.
Using Pythagoras's equation:
60 squared = 48 squared plus x squared. Solve for x.
2007-05-31 16:19:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It forms a triangle. Use the pythagorean theorem a^2 + b^2 = c^2
a^2+ 48^2=60^2
a^2 +2304=3600
a^2+1296
a=36
she is 36 feet away from the base of the tree.
2007-05-31 16:23:55 · answer #4 · answered by krzicleo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the question gives you a triangle.
the height is 48 ft
the rope is the hypotenuse which is 60ft
the distance is the base which is what you are looking for
using pythagorean theorem,
48^2+b^2=60^2
2304+b^2=3600
b^2=3600-2304
b^2=1296
b=square root of 1296=36
2007-05-31 16:27:34 · answer #5 · answered by R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah,
I don't want to completely give it away, but think of this as a right triangle problem. Use pythagorean theorem
(48^2) + x^2 =60^2
2304 + x^2= 3600
x^2= 1296
x= 36
hope this helps.....
2007-05-31 16:26:30 · answer #6 · answered by JRS- MT/CLS 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not far enough.
Alway draw a picture. If you see something that looks like a hypotenuse with a multiple of 5 and a side with a multiple of 4, odds are high the other side is a multiple of 3. Annie is 36 feet away.
2007-05-31 16:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋