Question

Amanda leaned a 15-foot ladder against the top of her house so she could get on the roof, which is 12 feet from the ground.

What is the distance from the base of the ladder to the base of the house?
A. 9 feet

B. 12 feet

C. 10 feet

D. 15 feet

Answer 1

Using the Pythagorean theorem:

15^2 = 12^2 + X^2

225 = 144 + x^2

X^2 = 225 - 144

x^2 = 81

x = √81

x = 9

The distance is 9 feet.

The answer is A.