Question

2 points

Answer 1

Answer:

4.9 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

First, we need to determine the height of the building using the following:

$L^2 = H^2 + B^2$

Where

H = Height of the building

L = Length of the first ladder = 20ft

B = Distance from the base of the building = 10ft

So, we have:

$20^2 = H^2 + 10^2$

$400 = H^2 + 100$

$H^2 = 400 - 100$

$H^2 = 300$

$H = \sqrt{300$

Next, is to determine the distance of the new ladder from the base of the building (B) using Pythagoras theorem using:

$L_2^2 = H^2 + B_2^2$

Where

$L_2 = 18$ --- Length of the second ladder

$H = \sqrt{300$ ----- Height of the building

So, we have:

$18^2 = \sqrt{300}^2 + B_2^2$

$324 = 300 + B_2^2$

$B^2_2 = 324 - 300$

$B^2_2 = 24$

Solving for B2, we have:

$B_2 = \sqrt{24$

$B_2 = 4.9$