SOLUTION: A 15-foot ladder is leaning against a building. The distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 3 feet less that the distance from the top of the ladder to the ground
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Question 107119This question is from textbook Begining Algebra
: A 15-foot ladder is leaning against a building. The distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 3 feet less that the distance from the top of the ladder to the ground. How far is teh bottom of the ladder from building? (sketch a diagram and use the pythagorean theorem)
This question is from textbook Begining Algebra
Answer by edjones(8007) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let a=x+3, b=x, c=15
a^2+b^2=c^2
(x+3)^2+x^2=15^2
x^2+6x+9+x^2-15^2=0
2x^2+6x+9-225=0
2x^2+6x-216
2(x^2+3x-108)=0
2(x+12)(x-9)=0
x= -12 is not an answer (negative)
x= 9 ft from from the building.
Check:
81+144=225 true
Ed
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