Question

The base of a 13 foot ladder is 5 feet away from the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?

Answer 1

The ladder would be 12 feet up the wall.

Explanation:

Answer 2

let x be how far up the wall ladder reaches

by Pythagoras theorem

x^2+5^2=13^2

x^2 =(13^2)-(5^2)

x= square root of 144

x= 12 or x =-12(rej,x>0)

hence ladder reaches 12 foot up the wall