what is the length of each wire to the nearest inch?

Question

Jim works for a landscaping company. He must plant and stake a tree. The stakes are 2ft from the base of the tree. They are connected to wires that attach to the trunk at a height of 5ft. If there is 6 inches of extra length at both ends of each wire, how long must each wire be, to the nearest inch?

 

(a thorough explanation of the answer and the mathematical work behind would be appreciated)

Answer 1

Use Pythagoras:

length = √(5² + 2²) + 1     the one is the extra foot of wire.