A tree is broken at a height of 5 m from the ground and its tip touches the ground at a distance of 12 m from the base of the tree. Find the original height of the tree.
From the figure, we have
BC is the unbroken part of the tree
Point C represents that point where the tree broke
CA represents the broken part of the tree
is right angled at B
By applying pythagoras theorem, we get:
AC2 = BC2 + AB2
AC2 = (5)2 + (12)2
AC2 = 25 + 144
AC2 = 169 m2
AC = 
AC = 13 m
Hence,
The original height of the tree = AC + CB
= 13 m + 5 m
= 18 m
20