Question

A ladder is resting against a wall. The top of the ladder touches the wall at a height of 9 ft. Find the length of the ladder if the length is 3 ft more than its distance from the wall.

Answer 1

Answer:15

Step-by-step explanation:

A ladder is resting against a wall.The top of the ladder touches the wall at a height of 9 feet.Find the length of the ladder if the length is 3 feet more than its distance from the wall.

Let the distance of the ladder from the wall be x

The length of the ladder = x+3

The ladder touches the wall at a vertical height of 9 feet.

(x+3)^2 = x^2 + 9^2 ( using the pythagoras theorem

x^2 + 6x+ 9 = x^2 + 81

x^2- x^2 +6x = 81-9

6x= 72

x= 12

Therefore the length of the ladder will be x+3 = 12 + 3 =15 Answer.