Final answer:
Using the Pythagorean theorem, the top of the ladder is found to be approximately 9.75 feet above the ground when the bottom is 7 feet away from the house.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how high the top of the ladder is from the ground, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. This theorem states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle) is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (the legs). If we let x represents the height from the ground to the top of the ladder, we can write an equation based on the given dimensions:
x2 + 72 = 122
Solving this equation for x gives us:
x2 = 122 - 72
x2 = 144 - 49
x2 = 95
x = √95 ≈ 9.7468 feet
So, the top of the ladder is approximately 9.75 feet above the ground.