Question

Solve, using a picture to assist you. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

If a 40-foot tall ladder is placed 15 feet from the base of a house, how high up the house will the
ladder reach?

Answer 1

36.66 ft

Explanation: You have to use the pythagorean theorem. a^2 + b^2 = c^2 (if you lean a ladder against a wall, it will make the shape of a triangle) The hypoteneuse would be 40 feet as it is the height of the ladder (the longest side). The one of the legs would be 15 ft (how far it is from the base of the house). You would then just plug the numbers in : a^2 + 15^2 = 40^2

a^2 + 256 = 1600

a^2 = 1344

a = 36.66