Notice that equilateral triangles with side 12ft are created, and the support beams take those equilateral triangles apart on two right-triangle shaped parts:
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the value of x:
[tex]\begin{gathered} x^2+(6ft)^2=(12ft)^2 \\ \Rightarrow x^2+36ft^2=144ft^2 \\ \Rightarrow x^2=144ft^2-36ft^2 \\ \Rightarrow x^2=108ft^2 \\ \Rightarrow x=\sqrt[]{108ft^2} \\ \Rightarrow x=10.4ft \end{gathered}[/tex]
Therefore, the answer is:
[tex]10.4ft[/tex]
