Question

If the ladder is 25 feet long. How far away from the wall is the base of the ladder?

Answer 1

15 feet

Explanation:

`a^(2) +b^(2) =c^(2) \\a^(2) +(20)^(2) =(25)^(2) \\a^(2) +400=625\\a^(2) =225\\a=15`

Answer 2

15 feet

Explanation:

We can imagine the structure as a right triangle: the right angle is formed where the ground meets the wall.

• In a right triangle, "a" is a leg, which we can represent as the distance from the base of the ladder to the wall

• "b" is also a leg, we can represent this as the height of the ladder above ground

• "c" is the hypotenuse, or in this case, the length of the ladder

Based on the question:

• a is unknown, and what we are solving for
• b is the height of 20 ft
• c is the length of the ladder or 25 ft

We can solve using the Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²

Solve:

• a² + b² = c²
• a² + 20² = 25²
• a² + 400 = 625
• a² = 225
• a = √(225)
• a = 15

The distance from the base of the ladder to the wall is 15 feet.

-Chetan K