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The base of a 15-foot ladder is 5 feet from a building. If the ladder reaches the flat roof, how tall is the building?

User Allan Kimmer Jensen
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1 Answer

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The situation forms the right triangle above.

Since it is a right triangle we can apply the Pythagorean theorem:

c^2 = a^2 + b^2

Where:

C = hypotenuse (the longest side) = 15 ft

a & b = the other 2 legs of the triangle = 5 and x

Replacing:

15^2 = x^2 + 5^2

Solve for x

225 = x^2 + 25

225 - 25 = x^2

200 = x^2

√200 = x

x = 14.14 ft (height of the building)

The base of a 15-foot ladder is 5 feet from a building. If the ladder reaches the-example-1
User Cordell Lawrence
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