The ceiling supports in a new discount department store are

The ceiling supports in a new discount department store are 12 feet apart. Lights are to be hung from these supports by chains in the shape of a Y. If the lights are 10 feet below the ceiling, what is the shortest length of chain that can be used to support these lights?

2*sqrt(36+x^2)+10-x 2*x/sqrt(36+x^2)-1=0 sqrt(36+x^2)=2x 36 + x^2=4*x^2 x^2=12 x=sqrt(12) 2*sqrt(48)+10-sqrt(12) 7*sqrt(12)+10=34.25 feet of chain