Question

two poles 15 metre and 10 metre high stand upright on the ground.if the distance between their top is 13 metre,find the horizontal distance between the poles

Answer 1

$\sqrt{244}$

Answer 2

Let the poles be AB and CD with AB>CD. If A perpendicular from CD joins AB at E, measurement of AE will be 5m and BE will be 10 m.

Consider tri AEC right angled at E, here we have AE= 5m, AC = 13m (given).

We have to find EC.

∵ tri AEC is a right triangle, we can apply Pythagoras Theorem.

We get:

AC² = EC² + AE²

⇒AC² - AE² = EC²

⇒13² - 5² = EC²

⇒169 - 25 = EC²

⇒144 = EC²

⇒EC = √144

⇒EC = 12

∴ DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO POLES IS 12m.