SOLUTION: If a 12-foot portable ladder meets the side of a building 11.625 feet from the ground, the distance from the base of th eladder to the side of the building should be, most nearly__
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Question 45764: If a 12-foot portable ladder meets the side of a building 11.625 feet from the ground, the distance from the base of th eladder to the side of the building should be, most nearly____ feet?
Answer by tutorcecilia(2152) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a^2 + b^2 = c^2 [Use the Pythagorean Theorem]
a=11.625
b=b
c=12
.
(11.625)^2 + b^2 = (12)^2
135.141 + b^2 = 144
135.141 - 144 = b^2
-8.859 = b^2 [Disregard the negative sign]
=
2.976 = b [Final answer]
.
Check by plugging b=2.976 back into the original equation:
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
(11.625)^2 + (2.976)^2 = (12)^2
135.141 + 8.856 = 144
143.997 equivelent to 144 [Checks out]
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