Question

A wooden flagpole is 25 foot tall. In a storm, the flagpole is broken and its top touches the ground 5 foot from the base. Find the lengths of the segments of the flagpole. I need the explanation or working.
This is Pythagoras' Theorem.

Answer 1

Answer: x = 12 ft

Step-by-step explanation:

let the erect part of the pole be x

the slanted part of the pole will be 25-x

the ground distance = 5

they form a right triangle

apply Pythagoras theorem

5^2+x^2=(25-x)^2

25+x^2=x^2 - 50x + 625

50x=625-25

50x=600

x=600/50

x=12 feet