How do I solve using Pythagorean theorem and how do I find the distance from the boat to the dock when length is 60 feet(round to one decimal place)?

Question

A winch tows a boat to a dock. The rope is attached at a point 15 feet below the level of the winch.

Answer 1

Draw a diagram of the problem first. It is a triangle. The height from the winch to where the rope is attached is 15 feet. The length of the rope is 60 feet. The third side of the triangle is the distance from the boat to the dock. The angle opposite the length of the rope measures 90 degrees, making this a right triangle.

The Pythagorean Theorem is a² + b² = c². C is the longest side, or the side opposite the 90 degree angle. All you need to do is plug the numbers in.