Question

Two poles of heights 6m and 11m stand on a plane ground. If the distance between the feet of the poles is 12m, find the distance between their tops.

• A. $16m$
• B. $15m$
• C. $14m$
• D. $13m$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $13m$


Let CD and AB be the poles of height 11m and 6m.
Therefore, CP = (11 - 6)m = 5m
from the figure, it can be observed that AP = 12m
Applying Pythagoras theorem for $\Delta APC$, we get
$A{P}^2=P{C}^2+A{C}^2$
$(12m{)}^2+(5m{)}^2=(AC{)}^2$
$A{C}^2=(144+25)m^2=169m^2$
AC = 13m
Therefore, the distance between their tops is 13m.