(related to Problem: Stealing The Bell-ropes)
Whenever we have one side $a$ of a right-angled triangle, and know the difference between the second side and the hypotenuse (which difference we will call $b$), then the length of the hypotenuse will be
$$\frac{a^2}{2b} + \frac b2.$$
In the case of our puzzle, this will be
$$\left(\frac{48 \times 48}6 + 1 \frac 12\right)\text{ in. } = 32 \text{ ft. } 1\frac 12 \text{ in. },$$
which is the length of the rope.
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