document.write( "Question 191550: A ladder is leaning against a building. The distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 8 ft less then the length of the ladder. How high up the side of the building is the top of the ladder if that distance is 4 ft less then the length of the ladder? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #143712 by RAY100(1637) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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assume problem is right triangle with sides (l-8), (l-4), and hypotenuse of l\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "pythagorous theorem states c^2 = a^2 + b^2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "l^2 = (l-8)^2 + (l-4)^2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "l^2 = ( l^2 -16 * l +64) + (l^2 -8*l +16)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "L^2 = 2*l^2 - 24*l + 80\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "0 = l^2 -24*l + 80\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "factoring 0 = ( l -20) ( L-4)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "l-20 = 0. l=+20\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "l-4 = 0, l=4 but l-8 and l-4 are positive lengths therefore l cannot equal 4 \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "sides of triangle are 20, l-8 = 12, and l-4 =16 ( height up bldg) \n" ); document.write( "

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