Question

The tip of a 5ft ladder plank is resting on a man's head,the next end is on level ground 3.5 ft away from the man. Determine the height of the man to the nearest whole number.

Answer 1

4 ft

Explanation:

This is a right triangle problem

the hypotenuse is 5

Therefor

a^2 + 3.5^2 = 5^2

a^2 = 5^2 - 3.5^2

a^2 = 25 - 12.25

a^2 = 12.75

a = 3.5707142143

to the nearest whole number.

4 ft (that's a very short man)