Question

A volleyball net post needs a cable to support it. The hook to attach the cable is 4 ft. above the court surface, and the hook in the floor is 3 ft. from the base of the post. How long should the cable be?(1 point)
Responses

2.65 ft.
2.65 ft.

5 ft.
5 ft.

25 ft.
25 ft.

4 ft.

Answer 1

To determine the length of the cable needed to support the volleyball net post, you can visualize it as a right triangle. The height difference between the hook on the post and the hook in the floor is 4 ft (height of the hook) minus 0 ft (floor level), and the horizontal distance from the base of the post to the hook in the floor is 3 ft.

1. The vertical distance (rise) is 4 ft.
2. The horizontal distance (run) is 3 ft.

You can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the length of the cable (hypotenuse):

\[
cable^2 = (vertical\ distance)^2 + (horizontal\ distance)^2
\]
\[
cable^2 = (4\ ft)^2 + (3\ ft)^2
\]
\[
cable^2 = 16\ ft^2 + 9\ ft^2
\]
\[
cable^2 = 25\ ft^2
\]
\[
cable = \sqrt{25\ ft^2} = 5\ ft
\]

Therefore, the length of the cable should be **5 ft**.