There is a pole in the lake. One-half of the pole is in the ground, another one-third of it is covered by water, and 12 ft. is out of the water. What is the total length of the pole in feet?

36 ft.

32 feet.

How did you get that

There is a pole in the lake. One-half of the pole is in the ground, another one-third of it is covered by water, and 12 ft. is out of the water. What is the total lenght of the pole in feet?
86.398 feet.

Length of pole =s 100 %.
50 % is in the ground.
33.333 % is covered by water.
===================
83.333 % is covered by water and in the ground.
That leaves 100 % minus 83.333 % or 16.667 % out of the water.
16.667 % +s 12 feet out of the water.
Therefore, one foot of the pole length is 12 ft diviided by 16.667 % or .72 of a foot and
finally 100 % is 100 times .72 or 72 feet.
I take back my first answer.

86.398 feet.
How did you get that

how did you get that
Thank you

I drew 12 boxes stacked on one another, a line in the middle, 6 on top, 6 on bottom.
6 units on bottom, is half in ground,"another 1/3"(of the remainder?)2 units(boxes)is in water. Remainder 2/3rd or 4units (not in water) is 12. 12+ 1/3=18. 18X2=36.

My answer is 36 feet. Now you figure out the portions.

I think the answer is 72ft. But I think there's some ambiguity in the question, I'm assuming that (100-50)-33.33 % is out of the water (1/2 in ground, another 1/3 in water). Whereas the people answering 36ft are assuming that only 1/3 of the remaining 1/2 is covered by water,

x=\frac{x}{2}+\frac{x}{3}+12

x=\frac{5x}{6}+12

\frac{x}{6}=12

x=72

I agree with galactus.

I agree with Galactus and Capuchin, A couple of us were figureing 1/3 of the remaining half.
Are we all wondering if this guy is taking a test.

This question actually seems quite common. I think it's some kind of pre-college math quiz thing.

72 ft


.167x = 12
x = 72

1/2 = 3/6
1/3 =2/6
Therefore 1/6 that is left =12 feet
so if 1/6 =12
then 6/6 = 72 feet
I agree with Capuchin and Richard Bond Man the answer is 72 feet

The difference between a third and a half is a sixth. One sixth is in the air and the whole pole is 12 x 6 feet long.

There is a pole in the lake. One-half of the pole is in the ground, another one-third of it is covered by water, and 12 ft. is out of the water. What is the total length of the pole in feet?


1 - 1/2 - 1/3 = 1/6

1/6 of pole = 12 ft

Length of pole = 72