A wire is stretched from the top of a 12-foot pole to a stake in the ground and then to the base of the pole. If a total of 20 feet of wire is needed, how far is the stake from the pole (the answer is NOT 16)
2 answers
8 feet
Let x be the distance.
√(x^2 + 12^2) + x = 20
√(x^2 + 144) = 20 - x
x^2 + 144 = 400 - 40x + x^2
40x - 256 = 0
x = 6.4
√(x^2 + 12^2) + x = 20
√(x^2 + 144) = 20 - x
x^2 + 144 = 400 - 40x + x^2
40x - 256 = 0
x = 6.4