document.write( "Question 374317: I need some help understanding the steps for this question. Could someone help please?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve the following:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The bottom of a 25 foot plank is placed approximately 7 feet from the side of a barn.
\n" ); document.write( " Approximately how far up the barn wall will the plank reach?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #266375 by Earlsdon(6294) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Notice that when you do as the problem instructs, you form a right triangle whose hypotenuse is the plank (25ft.) and whose base is the distance from the bottom of the plank to the side of the barn (7ft.).
\n" ); document.write( "The hypotenuse (labeled c) and the base (labeled b) can be used as b and c in the Pythagorean theorem. The height reached by the top of the plank will be repesented by a:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"c%5E2+=+a%5E2%2Bb%5E2\"$ Substitute c = 25 and b = 7.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"25%5E2+=+a%5E2%2B7%5E2\"$ Simplify.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"625+=+a%5E2%2B49\"$ Subtract 49 from both sides
\n" ); document.write( " $\"576+=+a%5E2\"$ Finally, take the square root of both sides.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"24+=+a\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The plank will reach exactly 24 feet up the barn wall. \n" ); document.write( "

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