Poles

[bactomac]

Two vertical poles on level ground have heights 8m and 3m. The top of each is connected to the base of the other by a rope. At what height do the ropes intersect?

[Mamyalynne]

2 metres i think

[Mamyalynne]

try it on a lined sheet of paper using a line per metre and it works however far apart you put them, am sure theres a formula LOL

[Petal]

If the poles are d metres apart, then draw a picture with a line representing the height meeting the ground vertically - say this is x metres from the 3 m pole, it is therefore d-x metres from the 8 m pole.

You then have two simple equations: x/h=d/8, and (d-x)/h=d/3.

Eliminate x from these and h comes out as (8 x 3)/(8+3) m = 2.182m