Question

A painter leans a 25-foot ladder against the wall. The bottom of the ladder is 20 feet from the base of the wall. The painter then moves the bottom of the ladder 13 feet closer to the wall. How much higher is the top of the ladder on the wall?

Answer 1

9 ft

Explanation:

a²+b²=c²

20²+b²=25²

400=b²=625

b²=625-400

b²=225

b=15 (the distance up the wall the ladder is to begin with)

20-13=7

7²+b²=25²

49+b²=625

b²=625-49

b²=576

b=24 (The distance up the wall the ladder is after moving it)

24-15=9