document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=251278>Question 251278</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A ladder is resting against a wall. The top of the ladder touches the wall at 9 feet high. Find the length of the ladder if the length is three more feet than the distance of the bottom of the ladder from the wall.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a) 9 feet b) 12 feet c) 15 feet d) 18 feet e) 21 feet </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #183127 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=unlockmath><B>unlockmath(1688)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=unlockmath><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=unlockmath><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=183127\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hello, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since we are dealing with a right triangle we can use the following formula:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a^2 + b^2 = c^2  Let \"a\" be the height of the wall where the latter is touching.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can represent the length of the latter as b+3, therefore we can plug these into the formula:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "9^2 + b^2 = (b+3)^2 rewritten as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "81 + b^2 = b^2 +6b + 9 Subtract b^2 from both sides and subtract 9 from both sides will give us:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "72 = 6b Divide 6 into both sides will be:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "12=b Now we know the latter is 15 feet long and the base is 12 feet. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "RJ <BR>\n" );
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