Question #6836c

1 Answer
Nov 6, 2017

What you have described here is a #3, 4, 5# right #angle triangle#, so the guy wire is #30ft#

Explanation:

The #3, 4, 5# right #angle triangle# will keep popping up in your mathematical career, so it is one you should memorize.

Image by EET-AP

This is an example of the Pythagorean theorem as described here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem

So our cable length #L# is found by: #L^2=18^2+24^2#

#L^2=324+576#

#L^2=900#

#L=30#, and since all distances are given in #ft#, #L=30ft#

But, if we divide all the distances by #6#;

we arrive at the #3, 4, 5# right #angle triangle#,

so the answer could be found without so much math.