A zip line starts on a platform that is 40 meters above the ground. The anchor for the zip line is 198 horizontal meters from the base of the platform.
How long is the zip line?
Let us assume that the zip line forms a right triangle with the platform and the ground.
The height of the triangle (the vertical distance from the platform to the ground) is 40 meters.
The base of the triangle (the horizontal distance from the anchor to the base of the platform) is 198 meters.
To find the length of the zip line (the hypotenuse), we can use the Pythagorean theorem:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
where a and b are the two legs of the triangle and c is the hypotenuse.
Plugging in the values:
40^2 + 198^2 = c^2
1600 + 39204 = c^2
40804 = c^2
c ≈ 202
Therefore, the length of the zip line is approximately 202 meters.