Right-angled Triangles, SM-Bank 046

Lewis is holding a string attached to a kite. Lewis is 8 metres from the kite and the kite is flying 4 metres above his hand. Use Pythagoras' Theorem to calculate the length of the string attached to the kite, correct to 2 decimal places. (2 marks)

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\(8.94\ \text{metres}\ (2\ \text{d.p.})\)

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\(\text{Pythagoras’ Theorem states: }c^2=a^2+b^2\)

\(\text{Let }a=4\ \text{and }b=8\)

\(\text{Then}\ \ c^2\)	\(=4^2+8^2\)
\(c^2\)	\(=80\)
\(c\)	\(=\sqrt{80}\)
\(c\)	\(=8.9442\dots\approx 8.94\ (2\ \text{d.p.})\)

\(\text{The length of the string is }8.94\ \text{metres}\ (2\ \text{d.p.})\)