Two kids are flying a kite with a string of 50 meters long. If the kids are 35 meters apart, how high is the kite off the ground? What formula should you use to solve?
Length of the string when in air (c) = 50 meters
The distance of kids apart (b) = 35 meters
The height of the kite off the ground = (a) ?
A. Use a² + b² = c² to solve. (50)² + (35)²=a²
B. Use c² - b² = a² to solve. (50)² - (35)² = a²
C .Just guess!
The formula that should be used to solve this problem is A. Use a² + b² = c², where a represents the height of the kite off the ground, b represents the distance between the kids, and c represents the length of the string.
Plugging in the values given:
a² + (35)² = (50)²
Simplifying:
a² + 1225 = 2500
Subtracting 1225 from both sides:
a² = 2500 - 1225
a² = 1275
Taking the square root of both sides:
a = √1275
Therefore, the height of the kite off the ground is approximately 35.71 meters.
So, the correct answer is A. Use a² + b² = c² to solve.