An electrical pole of 12 m height is stretched by a string of 20 m. Find the distance between the foot of the pole and the end point of the string on the ground?

An electrical pole of 12 m height is stretched by a string of 20 m. Find the distance between the foot of the pole and the end point of the string on the ground?

Explanation

Let's use the Pythagorean theorem:

Height of pole (perpendicular) = 12m

Length of string (hypotenuse) = 20m

Distance between foot of pole and end point of string (base) = √(hypotenuse² - perpendicular²)

= √(20² - 12²)

= √(400 - 144)

= √256

= 16m