Question

Oscar is planning to paint his house. For stability, the foot of his 17-foot ladder should be placed 4 feet from the house. How far up the side of the house will the ladder reach?

Answer 1

Answer: The side of the house will the ladder reached by ladder = 16.52 feet

Explanation:

House is standing vertical on the ground.

By placing ladder, it will become a right triangle with hypotenuse as ladder.

By Pythagoras theorem,

`(hypotenuse)^2=(perpendicular)^2+(base)^2`

i.e.

`(17)^2=(Height \ of\ wall\ reached\ by\ ladder)^2+4^2\\\\\Rightarrow\ (Height \ of\ wall\ reached\ by\ ladder)^2=289-16\\\\\Rightarrow\ (Height \ of\ wall\ reached\ by\ ladder)^2=273\\\\\Rightarrow\ (Height \ of\ wall\ reached\ by\ ladder)=√(273)\approx16.52`

Hence, the side of the house will the ladder reached by ladder = 16.52 feet (approx)