Question

A 40 ft ladder leans against a building so that the top of the ladder touches the building at a point 21 ft above the ground. To the nearest tenth of a foot, how far from the bottom of the building is the bottom of the ladder?

Answer 1

the distance is 34.04 ft

Answer 2

34.04 feet

Explanation:

We are given that :

A 40 ft ladder leans against a building so that the top of the ladder touches the building at a point 21 ft above the ground.

This can be represented by the figure attached

We have to find the value of x

Clearly it is a right angle triangle with base x, perpendicular 21 feet and hypotenuse 40 feet.

⇒ x² + 21²=40²

⇒ x²= 1159

⇒ x= 34.04

Hence, the bottom of the building is 34.04 feet away the bottom of the ladder.