Question

Two poles of height 6 m and 11 m stand vertically on the ground such that the distance between them is 12 m, find the distance between their tops.

Answer 1

Let AB and CD be the two poles. BC = AE is the distance between the poles.

The distance between their tops is AD.

It is given that AB = 6 m and CD = 11 m.

∴ ED = CD − EC = 11 − 6 = 5 m

Applying Pythagoras theorem in right ΔAED, we have:

Hence, the distance between their tops is 13 m.