document.write( "Question 1010990: I need help solving this with the pythagorean theorem.
\n" ); 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
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Algebra.Com's Answer #626518 by fractalier(6550)\"\" \"About 
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
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