Answer:
No it won't fit.
Explanation:
What you know: the dimensions of the suitcase. You also know that the hiking pole can be shrunk to 72 cm.
What you need to know: will the hiking pole fit in the suitcase
Plan: use a formula. Use the pythagorean theorem. (I mean, that's what I would do.) NOTE: if you haven't been taught this, don't pretend to know it!
Solve:
a^2+b^2=c^2
40^2+55^2 = c^2
4625=c^2
take sqrt of both sides
68 = c
So if you drew a line from the TOP LEFT of the suitcase to the bottom right (by the wheel), it would be 68 cm. The hiking pole is 72 cm. So the pole would NOT fit in that direction.
Let's try the other direction.
55^2 + 20^2 = c^2
3425 = c^2
take sqrt of both sides
58.52 = c
So if you look at the side of the suitcase and drew a line from the corner to the bottom, it would be 58.5 cm. The pole is 72cm. So the pole would not fit.
Let's see if you could place the pole on a diagonal inside the suitcase.
The diagonal would be the hypotenuse formed by 40^2+20^2=c^2
c=44.7
So now use that as a "leg" and 55 as the other leg.
44.7^2 + 55^2 = c^2
5023.09 = c^2
70.8737610121 = c
Once again, this is SHORTER than the pole. The pole won't fit in ANY direction.