Solve the problem.
-On a sunny day, a flag pole and its shadow form the sides of a right triangle. If the hypotenuse is 35 meters long and the shadow is 28 meters, how tall is the flag pole?
A)21 m
B)49 m
C)45 m
D)63 m

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the Pythagorean theorem, $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $c$ is the hypotenuse, $a$ is the height of the flagpole, and $b$ is the length of the shadow. Given $c = 35$ meters and $b = 28$ meters, we solve for $a$: $a^2 = 35^2 - 28^2 = 1225 - 784 = 441$. Taking the square root of 441 gives $a = 21$ meters.

Solve the Problem. -On a Sunny Day, a Flag Pole and Its Shadow