Question

4. To secure an outdoor canopy, a 64-inch cord is

extended from the top of a vertical pole to the


ground. If the cord makes a 60° angle with the


ground, how tall is the pole? Give the answer in


simplified radical form.

Answer 1

The problem can be modeled by a 30-60-90 triangle, where the hypotenuse is 64 inches. The height of the pole is the opposite side to the 60° angle, and is half the length of the hypotenuse. Therefore, the height of the pole is 64 / 2 = 32 inches. In simplified radical form, the height of the pole is 32√3 inches.