Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/238 - A Maypole Puzzle/Solution

by : $238$

 * A Maypole Puzzle

Solution

 * $50$ feet.

Proof
Let $L$ feet be the length of the maypole.

Let $d$ feet be the distance above the ground of the point where first it snapped.

The maypole, the snapped-off part, and the ground form a right triangle.

Hence we can use Pythagoras's Theorem to obtain: