Question

AB and CD are two buildings of height 30 m and 63 m. If the distance between them is 56 m, calculate the distance between their tops.

Answer 1

Height of building AB = 30 m

Height of building CD = 63 m

Step 1: Find the difference in heights:

Vertical difference = CD − AB

= 63 − 30

= 33 m

Step 2: Horizontal distance between the buildings:

Horizontal distance = 56 m

Step 3: Use Pythagoras theorem to find the slant distance between the tops:

Let the tops be A (of the small building) and D (of the tall building).

AD² = (Vertical difference)² + (Horizontal distance)²

AD² = 33² + 56²

= 1089 + 3136

= 4225

AD = `sqrt(4225)`

AD = 65 m

∴ The distance between the tops of the buildings is 65 m.