Question

Randy wants to attach a 23 foot string of lights to the top of the 13 foot mast of his sail boat. How far from the base of the mast should he attach the end of the light string?

Answer 1

distance from the base where string is attached = 18.97 feet

Explanation:

The diagram attached to this solution gives a right-angled triangle formed by attaching the string to the top of the mast. the distance from the base is calculated as follows:

(hypotenuse)² = (opposite)² + (adjacent)²

23² = 13² + d²

529 = 169 + d²

d² = 529 - 169

d² = 360

d = √(360)

d = 18.97 feet