Answer:
5.57 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
The string, the mast and the distance between the base of the mast and the end of the light string forms a right triangle, in which:
- The string is the hypothenuse: [tex]d[/tex]
- The mast is the height: [tex]h[/tex]
- The distance between the base of the mast and the end of the light string is the base: [tex]b[/tex]
In this problem, we have:
[tex]d=16 ft[/tex] (length of the string)
[tex]h=15 ft[/tex] (height of the mast)
Therefore, we can find the distance between the base of the mast and the end of the light string by applying Pythagorean's theorem; we find:
[tex]b=\sqrt{d^2-h^2}=\sqrt{16^2-15^2}=5.57 ft[/tex]
