Question

A 13 foot ladder is leaning against a wall. If the point where the ladder meets the wall is 12 feet above the ground, how far from the base of the wall is the ladder

Answer 1

5 feet bc...

12^2 + B^2 = 13^2

Answer 2

The distance of the base of the wall to the ladder is 5 Feet .

Explanation:

As given

A 13 foot ladder is leaning against a wall.

If the point where the ladder meets the wall is 12 feet above the ground.

As shown in the figure given below.

Now by using the pythagorean theorem

Hypotenuse² = Perpendicular² + Base²

AB² = AC² + BC²

As

AB = 13 foot

AC = 12 foot

Put in the above

13² = 12² + BC²

169 = 144 + BC²

BC² = 169 - 144

`BC = √(25)`

BC = 5 Feet

Therefore the distance of the base of the wall to the ladder is 5 Feet .