Question

The bottom of the ladder on a horizontal flat surface rests against a wall. It makes an angle of elevation of 39°. The bottom of the ladder is 48 ft from the base of the wall. Approximately how long is the ladder?

Answer 1

cosα=x/L

L=x/cosα, we are told that the ladder base is 48 ft from the base of the wall and α=39° so:

L=48/cos39 ft

L≈61.76 ft (to nearest hundredth of a foot)