Math Problem Statement
A communications tower is located at the top of a steep hill, as shown. A guy-wire is to be attached to the top of the tower and to the ground, 165 m downhill from the base of the tower. The height of the tower is 80 m, how long is the guy-wire?
Solution
To solve this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem since this forms a right triangle. Here's how we can break it down:
- The height of the tower is one leg of the right triangle, which is 80 m.
- The horizontal distance from the base of the tower to where the guy-wire meets the ground is the other leg, which is 165 m.
- The guy-wire is the hypotenuse of the triangle, which we are trying to find.
Using the Pythagorean theorem: where:
- (height of the tower),
- (horizontal distance from the tower base),
- is the length of the guy-wire.
Now, substitute the known values: To find , take the square root of both sides:
So, the length of the guy-wire is approximately 183.5 meters.
Would you like further explanation or have any questions on this? Here are some related questions you might find interesting:
- What would happen if the distance downhill was shorter, say 100 meters?
- How would you adjust the height of the tower if the guy-wire needs to be exactly 200 meters long?
- Can we apply the Pythagorean theorem to more complex structures involving more wires?
- How does the angle of the guy-wire relate to the dimensions of the triangle?
- What if the ground was not flat, but instead curved? Would the Pythagorean theorem still work?
Tip: Always check the units you're using in word problems to make sure they are consistent across the problem, and remember to square both numbers when using the Pythagorean theorem!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Geometry
Pythagorean Theorem
Right Triangles
Formulas
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Theorems
Pythagorean Theorem
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 7-9
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