A guy wire attached to a vertical pole of height 18 m is 24 m long and has a stake attached to the other end. How far from the base of the pole should the stake be driven so that the wire will be taut?
Pole AB = 18 m and distance from the window BC.
AC is the length of the wire = 24 m.
From the figure, ΔABC is a right triangle.
In a right angled triangle
(Hypotenuse) 2 = (Base)2 + (Height)2
where hypotenuse is the longest side.
(AC)2 = (AB)2 + (BC)2
⇒ 242 = (18) 2 + (BC) 2
⇒ BC2 = 576 - 324 = 252
⇒ BC = 6√7 m
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