Question

Mr. Holland is leaning a ladder against the side of his house to repair the roof. The top of the ladder reaches the roof, which is 3 meters high. The base of the ladder is 4 meters away from the house, where Mr. Holland's son is holding it steady. How long is the ladder? meters​

Answer 1

use Pythagoras theorem a^2+b^2 = c^2 where c is the longest side of the triangle (hypotenuse)

3^2 + 4^2 = c^2 (c is the length of the ladder)

9 + 16 = c^2

25 = c^2

c = √25 (square root)

c = 5