SOLUTION: 25 + (x-1)^2 = C^2 this is the formula i came up with from the word question: A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the la

Question 181933: 25 + (x-1)^2 = C^2
this is the formula i came up with from the word question:
A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder in one foot less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 5 feet.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=length of ladder

Since "the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder in one foot less than the length of the ladder.", this means that one leg of the triangle is ft. Also, we're given the other leg of 5 ft.

So this tells us that , and

Start with Pythagorean's Theorem

Plug in , and

Square 5 to get 25

FOIL

Subtract from both sides.

Combine like terms.

Subtract from both sides.

Combine like terms on the right side.

Divide both sides by to isolate .

Reduce.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer:

So the answer is

So this means that the length of the ladder is 13 ft while the height that the ladder reaches on the building is 12 ft.
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