Question

A 20 foot ladder leaning against a wall is used to reach a window that is 17 feet above the ground. How far from the wall is the bottom of the ladder? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot

Answer 1

The wall is 10.5 foot far from the bottom of the ladder.

Explanation:

Given:

Height of the ladder leaning against wall (Hypotenuse) = 20 foot.

Height from where the window is above from the ground (Leg1) = 17 feet.

To find the distance of the bottom of the ladder far from the wall (Leg2) = ?

Now, by using the pythagorean theorem:

`Hypotenuse^(2) = (Leg1)^(2) + (Leg2)^(2)`

`20^(2) =17^(2)+(Leg2) ^(2)`

`400=289+(Leg2)^(2)`

`400-289=(Leg2)^(2)`

`111=(Leg2)^(2)`

by squaring both sides

`Leg2=10.535`

10.535 foot rounded nearest tenth is 10.5 foot.

Therefore, the wall is 10.5 foot far from the bottom of the ladder.