Question

Two poles of height ‘a’ meters and ‘b’ meters are ‘p’ meters apart . Prove that the height of intersection of the line joining top of each pole to foot of the opposit pole is ab/a+b meters

Answer 1

Let AB be the pole of height 'a' m and CD be the pole of height 'b' m and let the point of intersection of lines joining the topos of the poles be E and the its height be 'h' m. Let the perpendicular drawn from E be EF. Let DF = 'x' m and BF = 'y' m. As given in the question, BD = 'p' m

Consider triangles DEP and DAB. They will be similar by AAA similarity criteria. So

x/p = h/a  ------------- (1)

Similarly triangles BFE and BDC are similar by AAA similarity. Hence

y/p = h/b  -------------- (2)

Add (1) and (2)

x/p + y/p = h/a + h/b

=> (x+y)/p = (ha+hb)/ab

=> p/p = h(a+b)/ab

=> 1 = h(a+b)/ab

=> h = ab/(a+b)