document.write( "Question 1068872: The distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is
\n" ); document.write( "8
\n" ); document.write( "ft less than the length of the ladder. How high up the side of the building is the top of the ladder if that distance is
\n" ); document.write( "4
\n" ); document.write( "ft less than the length of the ladder? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #684125 by Fombitz(32388) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the Pythagorean theorem,
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L%5E2=%28L-8%29%5E2%2B%28L-4%29%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L%5E2=L%5E2-16L%2B64%2BL%5E2-8L%2B16\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L%5E2=2L%5E2-24L%2B80\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L%5E2-24L%2B80=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28L-20%29%28L-4%29=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Two potential answers but since one length requires subtracting 8, it would lead to a negative length which doesn't make sense.
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L-20=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"L=20\"$ $\"ft\"$
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

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