GEOMETRY problem

Steven G

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A guy wire has to run from the top of one telephone pole to the top of a 2nd pole but has to be anchored to the ground between the two poles.
The 1st pole is 10 ft high, the 2nd pole is 5 ft high and the distance between the two pole is 20 ft.
Where should the wire be anchored to the ground in order to minimize the length of the wire.
Note: I purposely posted this in the geometry forum as opposed to the calculus forum.
 
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A guy wire has to run from the top of one telephone pole to the top of a 2nd pole but has to be anchored to the ground between the two poles.
The 1st pole is 10 ft high, the 2nd pole is 5 ft high and the distance between the two pole is 20 ft.
Where should the pole be anchored to the ground in order to minimize the length of the wire.
Note: I purposely posted this in the geometry forum as opposed to the calculus forum.

Flood the ground around the poles so you can see them reflected in the water. Then run the wire from the top of one to the reflection of the top of the other ... in a straight line, the shortest possible path.
 
A guy wire has to run from the top of one telephone pole to the top of a 2nd pole but has to be anchored to the ground between the two poles.
The 1st pole is 10 ft high, the 2nd pole is 5 ft high and the distance between the two pole is 20 ft.
Where should the pole be anchored to the ground in order to minimize the length of the wire.
What pole? Did you intend to type "the wire"?


Note: I purposely posted this in the geometry forum as opposed to the calculus forum.
I've always assumed that you do everything on purpose, but is that statement your way of telling us: calculus not allowed?
 
Pretend the shorter pole goes downward (underground)
instead of upward...then distance from tops = exactly 25,
hypotenuse of a 15-20-25 right triangle.

...or is that a re-wording of DocP's wet solution :p
 
What pole? Did you intend to type "the wire"?


I've always assumed that you do everything on purpose, but is that statement your way of telling us: calculus not allowed?
I'll change pole to wire, thanks! No calculus!
 
Pretend the shorter pole goes downward (underground)
instead of upward...then distance from tops = exactly 25,
hypotenuse of a 15-20-25 right triangle.

...or is that a re-wording of DocP's wet solution :p
Yeah, you (both) got it. I don't understand why my calculus 1 professor did not like my solution!
 
TO: Mr. Jomo, Owner and CEO of "The Jomo Guy Wire Consultants Co. Ltd."

Thank you for advising us that we need a guy wire of length exactly 25 feet.
However, you omitted to advise us of the exact anchored position of the
guy wire, i.e. point E below, thus the exact value of "a", B being the bottom
of the 10' pole, D being the bottom of the 5' pole:

B...........a............E....(20-a)....D

Please advise us a.s.a.p., then we will remit your horrendous fee.
 
TO: Mr. Jomo, Owner and CEO of "The Jomo Guy Wire Consultants Co. Ltd."

Thank you for advising us that we need a guy wire of length exactly 25 feet.
However, you omitted to advise us of the exact anchored position of the
guy wire, i.e. point E below, thus the exact value of "a", B being the bottom
of the 10' pole, D being the bottom of the 5' pole:

B...........a............E....(20-a)....D

Please advise us a.s.a.p., then we will remit your horrendous fee.

I'm confused. I thought you were the one who found the length to be 25 feet.

The similar triangles in your figure provide the answer to the question.
 
What pole? Did you intend to type "the wire"?


I've always assumed that you do everything on purpose, but is that statement your way of telling us: calculus not allowed?
Otis took both my red pen and blue pen!!! There is no justice in this world!!!
 
Go to a "flat-Earth" believer and make a large monetary bet that they can't find an edge. Then take the winnings and hire a professional engineer to solve the problem for you. Drink a beer out of the winnings while he/she does the work.

-Dan
 
I'm confused. I thought you were the one who found the length to be 25 feet.

The similar triangles in your figure provide the answer to the question.
Denis is the one confused. He easily confuses himself.
 
TO: Mr. Jomo, Owner and CEO of "The Jomo Guy Wire Consultants Co. Ltd."

Thank you for advising us that we need a guy wire of length exactly 25 feet.
However, you omitted to advise us of the exact anchored position of the
guy wire, i.e. point E below, thus the exact value of "a", B being the bottom
of the 10' pole, D being the bottom of the 5' pole:

B...........a............E....(20-a)....D

Please advise us a.s.a.p., then we will remit your horrendous fee.
I thing you need to visit freeenglishhelp.com or at least go to the eye doctor. You, not me, said 25 ft. I DID ask where to place the wire on the ground
 
I thing you need to visit freeenglishhelp.com or at least go to the eye doctor. You, not me, said 25 ft. I DID ask where to place the wire on the ground
Yes, 25 ft. being shortest wire. You were given that as a hint.
BUT you didn't calculate where to put the d*mn anchor;
do you want us to do all your work?
Please show where you're stuck, then perhaps Otis will help you :p
 
Yes, 25 ft. being shortest wire. You were given that as a hint.
BUT you didn't calculate where to put the d*mn anchor;
do you want us to do all your work?
Please show where you're stuck, then perhaps Otis will help you :p
Who wants Otis' help (nothing against you Otis), when I can be helped by Sir Denis?
 
I thing (sic) you need to visit freeenglishhelp.com or at least go to the eye doctor …
Careful, Jomo. You've been increasingly posting a lot of typos, grammatical errors, run-on sentences and other convoluted syntax structure, over the past 10 days.

Is everything okay?


PS: If English is not your native language, let me know. I'll understand. :cool:
 
thinG : thinK

G H J K (keyboard)

Jomo, you can't spell or else you got fat fingers!!
 
Careful, Jomo. You've been increasingly posting a lot of typos, grammatical errors, run-on sentences and other convoluted syntax structure, over the past 10 days.

Is everything okay?


PS: If English is not your native language, let me know. I'll understand. :cool:
My native language is Math (actually it's Swahili).
 
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