Question

A ladder is leaning against a wall. Paul has measured and determined that the distance along the ground from the base of the ladder to the wall is eight inches less than the distance along the wall from the ground to the top of the ladder. Which of the following functions describes the length of the ladder in terms of x, the distance along the wall from the ground to the top of the ladder?

Answer 1

Since the situation forms a right triangle, apply the Pythagorean theorem:

L^2 = (x)^2+ (x-8)^2

L^2 = x^2+x^2-16x+64

Combine like terms and solve for L:

L^2 = 2x^2-16x+64

`L(x)\text{ =}\sqrt[]{2x^2-16x+64}`

option A