Question

Terry uses a ladder that is 12 feet tall. To be safe the ladder must make an angle of elevation of between 70-85 degrees to be safe. If he places the ladder 3 feet from the wall, is it safe?

Answer 1

It is safe

Explanation:

Using trigonometry :

Cosθ = adjacent / hypotenus

Hypotenus = length of ladder = 12 feets

Adjacent = distance between ladder and wall = 3 feets

Cosθ = 3 /12

Cosθ = 0.25

θ = cos^-1(0.25)

θ = 75.522°

To be safe ladder must be between (70 - 85)°

Sijce ladder is at an elevation of 75.22° ; then it is safe.