Two vertical poles of lengths 11 ft and 14 ft stand 16 ft apart. a cable reaches from the top of one pole to some point on the ground between the poles and then to the top of the other pole. where should this point be located to use 30 ft of cable?

Two vertical poles of lengths 11 ft and 14 ft stand 16 ft apart. A cable reaches from the top of one pole to some point on the ground between the poles and then to the top of the other pole.

Let the distance of that point from smaller pole( 11 ft) be x ft. Hence the distance of that point from the larger pole would be (16-x)ft.

The cable forms a right angle triangle with each pole. In Right angle triangle Hypotenuse^2 = Base^2 + Perpendicular^2

The length of the cable connecting the point and the smaller pole is √(11² + x²)

The length of the cable connecting the point and the larger pole is √(14² + (16-x)² )

Total length of the cable is 30 ft

So, √(11² + x²) + √(14² + (16-x)² ) = 30

or, √(11² + x²) - 30 = √(14² + (16-x)² )

squaring both sides,

(11² + x²) + 900 - 60√(11² + x²) = (14² + (16-x)² )

or, 121 + x² + 900 - 60√(11² + x²) = 196 + 256 + x² - 32x

or, 32x + 569 = 60√(11² + x²)

Squaring both sides,

or, (32x + 569)² = 3600(11² + x²)

or, 1024x² + 323761 + 36416x = 3600( 121 + x²)

or, 1024x² + 323761 + 36416x = 435600 + 3600x²

or, 2576x² -36416x + 111839 = 0

Using the quadratic formula, x = 9.6267 ft or 4.5099 ft

Therefore, the point is located at a distance of 9.6267 ft or 4.5099 ft from the smaller pole of height 11 ft.

Hope this helps ..!!

Thank you :)

step-by-step explanation:

i think something is missing in your question because y-1=(x-12) would not pass through the point (-4,-3). because if you replace x by -4 your are supposed to find y=-3 which is not the case her. if you replace x by -4 you find =-15.

i assume the right equation is y-1=1/4*(x-12) because this one is passing through both your points (if you are interested to know how i found that out i can tell you).

in this equation if i replace x by -4 i find y=-3 and if i replace x by 12, i find y=1 so the line representing this equation is passing through those 2 points.

then the standard form of the equation is finding an expression of y in function of x

y-1=1/4*(x-12)

y=x/4-3+1

y=x/4-2

hope that .

do you confirm there was a mistake in the question?

english, cause i can’t you