Let the two poles be DE and AB and the distance between their bases be BE.
We have:
DE = 9 m, AB = 14 m and BE = 12 m
Draw a line parallel to BE from D, meeting AB at C.
Then, DC = 12 m and AC = 5 m
We need to find AD, the distance between their tops.
Applying Pythagoras theorem in right-angled ACD, we have:
AD2 = AC2 + DC2
AD2 = 52 + 122 = 25 + 144 = 169
= \(\sqrt{169}\) = 13 m
Hence, the distance between the tops to the two poles is 13 m.