Question

A 13​-foot ladder is placed against a vertical wall of a​ building, with the bottom of the ladder standing on level ground 7 feet from the base of the building. How high up the wall does the ladder​ reach?

Answer 1

10.95'

Explanation:

Pythagorean Theorem (
`a^(2) X b^(2) = c^(2)`)

a = 7' base

b = x unknown side height

c = 13' ladder (hypotenuse)

Using are formula:

49 X
`x^(2)` = 169

after subtracting 49 from both sides:

`x^(2)` = 120

`√(x)  = √(120)`

x = 10.95' (round as needed)