Question

a tree is broken at a height of 5 M from the ground and its top touches the ground at a distance of 12 m from the base of the tree find the original height of the tree

Answer 1

Answer is 18m

Using Pythagoras theorem

5^2+12^2=169 =13^2

13m is length which is broken down

Original height is 13+5=18m

Answer 2

Let A’CB be the tree before it broken at the point C and let the top A’ touches the ground at A after it broke. Then ΔABC is a right angled triangle, at B.

AB = 12 m and BC = 5 m

Using Pythagoras theorem,

In ΔABC

(AC)²=(AB)²+(BC)²

(AC)²=(12)²+(5)²

(AC)²=144+25

(AC)²=169

AC = √169

AC= 13 m

Hence, the total height of the tree(A’B) = A’C + CB = 13 + 5 = 18