A 20 foot ladder is leaned against a wall. If the base of the ladder is 8 feet from the wall, how high up on the wall will the ladder reach?
Mathematics · Middle School · Mon Jan 18 2021
Answered on
given that
A 20 foot ladder is leaned against a wall.
the base of the ladder is 8 feet from the wall
we know that
that is a RIGHT TRIENGLE
then use Pythagorean theorem to solve it
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Where for this situation
c = 20
b = 8
a = the height
a2 = c2 - b2
Take the square root (SQRT) of this to find a, the height.
a =SQRT( c2 - b2)
Just plug in the numbers give it a try.
a = SQRT ( 20^2 - 8^2)
a= SQRT (400-64)
a = SQRT 336
a = 18.33 feet