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

by : $238$

 * A Maypole Puzzle
 * During a gale a maypole was broken in such a manner that it struck the level ground at a distance of $20$ feet from the base of the pole,
 * where it entered the earth.
 * It was repaired, and broken by the wind a second time at a point $5$ feet lower down,
 * and struck the ground at a distance of $30$ feet from the base.
 * What was the original height of the pole?


 * In neither case did the broken part become actually detached.