SOLUTION: 19 1/2-foot ladder leans against a building. The base of the ladder is 7 1/2 ft from the building. How high up the building does the ladder reach?

Question 508956: 19 1/2-foot ladder leans against a building. The base of the ladder is 7 1/2 ft from the building. How high up the building does the ladder reach?
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Ladder = 19.5 ft
distance of base from wall = 7.5 ft
height at which it touches the building = x
They form a right triangle
By Pythagoras theorem
Hypotenuse^2 = Leg1^2+leg2^2

19.5 ^2 - 7.5 ^2 = x^2
380.25 - 56.25 = x^2
324 = x^2

x= 18 m

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