Question

A tree is broken at a height of 5 m from the ground and its top touches the ground at a distance of 12 m from the base of the tree. Find the original height of the tree.

Answer 1

Let A’CB represents the tree before it broken at the point C and let the top A’ touches the ground at A after it broke. Then ΔABC is a right angled triangle, right angled at B. 

AB = 12 m and BC = 5 m 

Hence, the total height of the tree = AC + CB = 13 + 5 = 18 m.