Answer:

Let the two poles be DE and AB and the distance between their bases be BE.

DE = 9 m

AB = 14 m

BE = 12 m

Draw a line parallel to BE from D, meeting AB at C.

DC = 12 m

AC = 5 m

Applying Pythagoras theorem in right-angled ACD,

????????² = ????????² + ????????²

????????² = 5² + 12²

=>25 + 144

=>169

???????? = √169

=>13 m

The distance between the tops to the two poles is 13 m.