document.write( "Question 204638: A ladder is leaning against a building. The distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 9ft less than the length of the ladder. How high up the side of the building is the top of the ladder if the distance is 2ft less than the length of the ladder? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #154455 by alicealc(293)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! the illustration for the problem should be a right triangle with: \n" ); document.write( "hypotenuse = the length of the ladder = L \n" ); document.write( "horizontal side = distance from bottom of the ladder to the building = L - 9 \n" ); document.write( "vertical side = distance from top of the ladder to the bottom of the building = L - 2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so,we can use Phytagoras formula: \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "(L - 5)(L - 17) = 0 \n" ); document.write( "L = 5 or L = 17\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "L = 17, because if L = 5 is used, the horizontal side will be in negative value\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so, if L = 17, then the top of the ladder will reach the building (17 - 2) = 15 ft from the bottom \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |