document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=838146>Question 838146</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A 20 foot ladder is placed against a building in such a way that the distance from the top of the ladder to the ground is 4 feet more than the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the wall. Find the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the wall. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #504873 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><B>mananth(16946)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=mananth><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=mananth><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=504873\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> distance from wall to the foot of ladder be x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The distance from top of ladder to the ground=(x+4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ladder length = 20 feet\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The ground wall and ladder form a right triangle\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "apply Pythagoras theorem\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2+(x+4)^2=20^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2+x^2+8x+16=400\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x^2+8x-400+16=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x^2+8x-384=0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2+4x-192=0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "complete the squares\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2+4x+4-4-192=0\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x+2)^2= 196\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "take the positive square root\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+2=13<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=11\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(x+2)=13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "distance from wall to the foot of ladder 11 feet<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The distance from top of ladder to the ground=13 feet\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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