SOLUTION: A man has a 90ft ladder and leans the end of it against an exterior wondow of a house. The base of the ladder is 45ft from the house. Calculate to the nearest foot how high it is

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Question 866731: A man has a 90ft ladder and leans the end of it against an exterior wondow of a house. The base of the ladder is 45ft from the house. Calculate to the nearest foot how high it is from window to the ground. the The formula i had to use was a^2 + b^2 = c^2
so c = 90, and a = 45 I am solving for b.
this is what I did but I don't think it is correct because the final answer is not an even square.
45^2 + b^2 = 90^2
2025 + b^2 = 8100
-2025 to both sides
b^2 = 6075
b is supposed to equal the square root of 6075
But I get 77.94228634
I don't think this is correct.

Answer by josgarithmetic(39621) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For the formula as a%5E2+%2B+b%5E2+=+c%5E2, the number c is the hypotenuse. The ladder forms the hypotenuse, and the ladder will be opposite the right angle which the building and the ground form. You chose a=45, from house to base of the ladder. The number which you want to solve for is b.

Your steps are all good, and nothing is stopping you from finishing.
highlight_green%28b%5E2=6075%29. .... Just FINISH this!

highlight_green%28highlight_green%28b=sqrt%286075%29%29%29-----FINISH! FINISH THIS!

What is the complete prime factorization of 6075?
6075=25%2A243=5%2A5%2A9%2A27=5%2A5%2A3%2A3%2A%283%2A3%2A3%29
So you see???????????


The numerical value which you reported is very good, but round to the nearest tenth of a foot makes more sense. Say maybe 77.9 feet.