Question

ANSWER FOR 30 POINTS A 13-foot ladder is leaning against a tree. The bottom of the ladder is 5 feet away from the bottom of the tree. Approximately how high up the tree does the top of the ladder reach?

Answer 1

12 feet

Explanation:

Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find how high up the tree the top of the ladder reaches.

13 feet - hypotenuse

5 feet - can be a or b

a² + b² = c²

5² + b² = 13²

25 + b² = 169

b² = 144

b = √144

b = 12

The top of the ladder reaches 12 feet up the tree.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

12 ft

Explanation:

These circumstances describe a triangle with hypotenuse 13 ft and bottom side 5 ft. The vertical side (height above ground to top of ladder) is to be found. According to the Pythagorean Theorem,

5^2 + (vertical side)^2 = 13 ft = 169, and so

(vertical side) = sqrt( 169 - 25 ) = 144 (ft)

The top of the ladder is s 12 ft above the ground.