A boy flying a kite is standing 15 meters ground distance from the kite. Find the height of the kite if the 25 meters of string have been let out.

Question

I don't understand this. 

Answer 1

form a right triangle

the hypotenuse is 25 meters

the horizontal leg is 15 meters

the height of the kite is the missing vertical leg, call it h

using the Pythagorean Theorem...

25²=15²+h²

625=225+h²

625-225=h²

400=h²

√400=√h²

20=h

the height of the kite is 20 meters

this is a 3-4-5 right triangle if you are familiar with this

3*5=15, 4*5=20, and 5*5=25

Answer 2

Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c²

 

C is the hypotenuse which is 25 meters of string. B is 15 meters. In the theorem the variables are squared, so we square the numbers given too.

 

A² + 15² = 25²

 

A² + 225 = 625

 

A² = 625 - 225

 

A² = 400

 

Take the square root of both sides.

 

A = 20 meters is the height.