Question

A roofer leaned a 16 foot ladder against a house. If the base of the ladder is 5 feet from the house how high up the house does the ladder reach?

Answer 1

15.1 feet up the wall

Explanation:

This is a Pythagorean theorem question

The ladder is the hypotenuse or c

the distance from the wall is a leg or a

and the wall is the other leg or b

a² + b² = c²

5² + b² = 16²

25 + b² = 256

-25 -25

b² = 231

√ √

√b² = √ 231

b = 15.1