Question

A 20 foot ladder leaning against a wall is used to reach a window that is 17 feet above the ground. How far from the wall is the bottom of the ladder? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot

Answer 1

Answer:

The wall is 10.5 foot far from the bottom of the ladder.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given:

Height of the ladder leaning against wall (Hypotenuse) = 20 foot.

Height from where the window is above from the ground (Leg1) = 17 feet.

To find the distance of the bottom of the ladder far from the wall (Leg2) = ?

Now, by using the pythagorean theorem:

$Hypotenuse^{2} = (Leg1)^{2} + (Leg2)^{2}$

$20^{2} =17^{2}+(Leg2) ^{2}$

$400=289+(Leg2)^{2}$

$400-289=(Leg2)^{2}$

$111=(Leg2)^{2}$

by squaring both sides

$Leg2=10.535$

10.535 foot rounded nearest tenth is 10.5 foot.

Therefore, the wall is 10.5 foot far from the bottom of the ladder.