Question

A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is one foot less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 5 feet.

A right triangle with the hypotenuse measuring x and one leg measuring x minus 1.


(1 point)


11 feet


14 feet


12 feet


13 feet

Answer 1

Length of ladder (hypotenuse) = 13 ft

Explanation:

Given:

Length of base (base) = 5 ft

Length of ladder (hypotenuse) = a

Distance between ground and ladder top (perpendicular) = a - 1

Find:

Length of ladder

Computation:

a² = 5² + (a-1)²

a² = 25 + a² - 2a + 1

2a = 26

Length of ladder (hypotenuse) = 13 ft