document.write( "Question 1010990: I need help solving this with the pythagorean theorem.
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document.write( "a ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is 9 feet less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 15 feet \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #626518 by fractalier(6550)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Make yourself a right triangle. \n" ); document.write( "Call the hypotenuse, x, which is the length of the ladder. \n" ); document.write( "The leg going up is x-9. \n" ); document.write( "The base is 15 feet. \n" ); document.write( "Use the Pythagrean Theorem and solve for x... \n" ); document.write( "15^2 + (x-9)^2 = x^2 \n" ); document.write( "225 + x^2 - 18x + 81 = x^2 \n" ); document.write( "306 = 18x \n" ); document.write( "x = 17 feet \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |