An electrician needs to run a cable from the top of a 92-foot tower to a transmitter box located 69 feet away from the base of the tower. Find how long he should cut the cable.

Answer 1

Pythagorean Theorem:

The legs are 69ft and 92ft, and the hypotenuse (length of cable) is c.

69² + 92² = c²

13225 = c²

√13225 = c → 115ft = c

Answer 2

If you draw a diagram, it's a right triangle. Vertical height 92 ft. Ground distance 69 ft. So need use Pythagorean Theorem. a² + b² = h² to find length of cable (hypotenuse).

92² + 69² = h² → 8464 + 4761 = h²

h² = 13225, so h = √13225, or 115 ft.

It's a 3:4:5 right triangle scaled up by a factor of 23 on all sides.

Answer 3

Use c²=a²+b² where a and b are given, since this forms a right triangle.