The height of the flagpole is: 12 ft.
Let the height of the flagpole be: x ft.
Now, we can model this problem with the help of a right angled triangle such that the hypotenuse of the triangle is: 20 feet
and one of the leg of the right triangle is: 16 feet
Now, in order to find the other leg i.e. x we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem.
i.e.
[tex]20^2=x^2+16^2\\\\i.e.\\\\400=x^2+256\\\\x^2=400-256\\\\x^2=144\\\\x=\pm 12[/tex]
But the height can't be negative.
Hence, we get:
[tex]x=12[/tex]
