Question

Two poles of height o metres and b metres are p metres apart. Prove that the height of the point of intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the foot of the opposite pole is given by ab/(a+b) metres.

Answer 1

Let AB and CD be two poles of height a and b metres respectively such that the poles are p metres apart i.e. AC= p metres. Suppose the lines AD and BC meet at O such that OL =h metres.

Hence, the height of the intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the foot of the opposite pole is ab/(a+b) metres.