Question

A ladder is leaning against a vertical wall. The distance from the top of the ladder to the base of the wall is 17 feet. The distance from the base of the wall to the bottom of the ladder is 7 feet. What is the length of theladder (nearest tenth)?

Answer 1

18.4 feet

Explanation:

-use the formula C^2 = A^2 + B^2 for a right triangle, which is made by the ladder and the wall.

-let the ladder be C, the wall be a, the base to the bottom be b.

-substitude into the equation, which will leave us with:

C^2 = 17^2 + 7^2

C^2 = 289 + 49

C^2 = 338

C = square root of 338, which is 18.4 feet!