Question

A 12 foot ladder is leaning on a tree. The bottom of the ladder on the ground is at a distance of 7 feet from the base of the tree. The base of the tree and the ground form a right angle as shown.

What is the distance in feet between the ground and the top of the ladder

Answer 1

Answer: 9.7 feet

Work Shown

Use the pythagorean theorem

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

7^2 + x^2 = 12^2

49 + x^2 = 144

x^2 = 144-49

x^2 = 95

x = sqrt(95)

x = 9.746794

x = 9.7