Question

A seven foot ladder, leaning against a wall, touches the wall x feet above the ground. write an expression (in terms of x) for the distance from the foot of the ladder to the base of the wall.

Answer 1

The ladder leaning against the wall forms a right angle triangle with the wall and the ground

The wall height = x
The ladder length = 7
The distance between the foot of the ladder to the wall = y

We will use Pythagoras theorem to find an expression for y

7² = x² + y²
y² = 7² - x²

`y= √(49-x^2)`