Question

Two poles of height $10$ m and $15$ m, stand on a plane ground. If the distance between their feet is $12$m, the distance between their tops is:

• A. $12$ m
• B. $13$ m
• C. $12.5$ m
• D. $13.5$ m

Answer 1

The correct option is B $13$ m

Since the two poles of height $10$ m and $15$ m stand on a plane ground, therefore, their difference will be the perpendicular of the plane that is $15-10=5$ m.

It is given that the distance between their feet is $12$ m which means the base $=12$ m.

Since we know the base and height, we can calculate the hypotenuse $h$, that is:

$h^2=5^2+{12}^2$

$\Rightarrow$$h^2=25+144$

$\Rightarrow$$h^2=169$

$\Rightarrow$$h=\sqrt{169}$

$\Rightarrow$$h=13$ m

So the distance between their tops is $13$ m.