Problema Solution
A 15-ft diagonal brace on a bridge connects a support of the center of the bridge to a side support on the bridge. The horizontal distance that it spans is 3ft longer than the height that it reaches on the side of the bridge. Find the horizontal and vertical distances spanned by this brace.
Answer provided by our tutors
horizontal distance x=3+h.
x^2+h^2=15^2.
(h+3)^2+h^2=225.
h^2+6h+9+h^2=225.
2h^2+6h+9-225=0.
2h^2+6h-216=0.
h^2+3h-108=0.
(h-9)(h-12)=0.
h=9,12.
x=h+3.
=12,15.
neglect the value of h =15 as diagonal is 15ft.
horizontal distance x=12ft.
height h=9 ft.