16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryEasyHeight of a kite from its string

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A kite is flying on a straight string 13 metres long. The end of the string on the ground is 5 metres horizontally from the point directly below the kite. How high above the ground is the kite, in metres?

Answer: 12

13² − 5² = 169 − 25 = 144, and √144 = 12.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 8
8 subtracts 5 from 13 without squaring.
If you answered 18
18 adds the two lengths.
If you answered 144
144 is the square of the height.

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