Question

What is the minimum length ladder that a worker needs to access a landing nine feet above the adjacent floor

Answer 1

The minimum length of the ladder needs to be 9 feet.

Answer 2

Answer: A 12 foot ladder would be the minimum length that is going to be required by a worker to access a landing nine feet above the adjacent floor

So with the standard terms the ladder should be at least 1 unit away for 4 feet of height so, keeping in mind the unitary method:

Height                Away from base

4                                   1

9                                    x

The amount a 9 feet ladder should be away is:

x = 2.5 feet away from the base

Using the Pythagoras Theorem:  

a² + b² = c²  

place the values for the right triangle (a = 2.5, b = 9):  

2.5² + 9² = c²  

= 9.34 feet  

Now, we know that the length of the ladder should always be more than the height you are trying to reach:  

9.34 + 2 = 11.34  

The minimum height of the ladder should be 11.34 feet. As a result, rounding off would result in a 12 foot ladder.