Question

A 20-foot ladder is leaning against a tree. The bottom of the ladder is 12 feet away from the bottom of the tree. Approximately how high up the tree does the top of the ladder reach? /2.4 feet/ /6 feet/ /9.2 feet/ /16 feet/

Answer 1

pythagorean theorem is a^2 + b^2 = c^2. the hypotenuse is always the longest, so lets plug in the values.

a^2 + 12^2 = 20^2
if we simplify, we get a^2 + 144 = 400

then subtract 400-144 = 256
then find the sq. root of 256 = 16.

the answer is 16 feet