Question

A ramp is being used to unload the back of a truck. The bottom of the ramp is 12 feet from the truck and the top of the ramp is lying on the back of the truck. If the back of the truck is 5 feet high, which of the following equations can be used to find the length of the ramp? 52 + b2 = 122 , 122 + b2 = 52,  52 + 122 = c2

Answer 1

The equation that can be used to find the length of the ramp is

`5^(2)` +
`12^(2)` =
`c^(2)`

Answer 2

The correct option is 3. The required equation is
`5^2+12^2=c^2`.

Explanation:

It is given that the bottom of the ramp is 12 feet from the truck and the back of the truck is 5 feet high.

Let the length of the ramp be c feet.

The given information forms a right angled triangle. Where bottom of the ramp from the truck is base, height of the back of the truck is perpendicular and length of ramp is hypotenuses.

Base = 12 feet

Perpendicular = 5 feet

Hypotenuses = c feet

Using Pythagoras theorem,

`Perpendicular^2+Base^2=Hypotenuses^2`

`(5)^2+(12)^2=c^2`

The required equation is
`(5)^2+(12)^2=c^2`.

Therefore option 3 is correct.