Question

Atreeis8mnorthand6meastofanothertree. Oneofthetreesis12mtall,andtheothertreeis 17 m tall. Find the distance between:
a the trunks of the trees b the tops of the trees.

Answer 1

Answer:

Consider the two trees as perpendiculars on the ground forming a right triangle, where the distance between their bases is the base (B), the distance between their tops is the Hypotenuse (H) and difference between their lengths is the perpendicular (P).

Hypotenuse, H=17 m

Perpendicular, P= distance between their lengths =28−20=8 m

Thus, By Pythagoras Theorem,

H

2

=P

2

+B

2

17

2

=8

2

+B

2

B

2

=289−64

B=15m.