document.write( "Question 360748: A 28 ft. ladder is leaning halfway up a 40 foot building. How far from the building should ladder be placed? (Round answer to the nearest foot) \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #257437 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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 \"20\" and \"x\" this means that \"a=20\" and \"b=x\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, since the hypotenuse is \"28\", this means that \"c=28\".\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( "\"20%5E2%2Bx%5E2=28%5E2\" Plug in \"a=20\", \"b=x\", \"c=28\" \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"400%2Bx%5E2=28%5E2\" Square \"20\" to get \"400\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"400%2Bx%5E2=784\" Square \"28\" to get \"784\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=784-400\" Subtract \"400\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2=384\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=sqrt%28384%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=8%2Asqrt%286%29\" Simplify the square root.\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=8%2Asqrt%286%29\" which approximates to \"x=19.596\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the ladder should be placed approximately 20 ft from the building (rounded to the nearest foot).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, feel free to check out my tutoring website\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Jim
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