document.write( "Question 293359: A ladder that is 26 feet long is 10 feet from the base of a wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #211779 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "We basically have this triangle set up:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "To find the unknown length, we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Remember, the Pythagorean Theorem is \"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" where \"a\" and \"b\" are the legs of a triangle and \"c\" is the hypotenuse.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the legs are \"x\" and \"10\" this means that \"a=x\" and \"b=10\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, since the hypotenuse is \"26\", this means that \"c=26\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"a%5E2%2Bb%5E2=c%5E2\" Start with the Pythagorean theorem.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B10%5E2=26%5E2\" Plug in \"a=x\", \"b=10\", \"c=26\" \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B100=26%5E2\" Square \"10\" to get \"100\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2B100=676\" Square \"26\" to get \"676\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=676-100\" Subtract \"100\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=576\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=sqrt%28576%29\" Take the square root of both sides. Note: only the positive square root is considered (since a negative length doesn't make sense).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=24\" Take the square root of 576 to get 24.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the solution is \"x=24\" which means that the ladder reaches 24 ft up the wall.
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