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Question 1003286: I can't figure out the answer to this question. When I complete it, I get m=-15/9. Can you help me?
A 15 foot ladder is leaning against a house with its bottom 9 feet from the base of
the house. What is the slope of the ladder? Select the correct answer, then either show your work or explain your answer.
a) 9/15
b) Square root of 24
c) 12
d) 4/3
e) 15
Found 3 solutions by jim_thompson5910, josgarithmetic, MathTherapy:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let x = height where the top of the ladder leans against the wall
We have a right triangle with legs x and 9, along with a hypotenuse of 15.
Use the pythagorean theorem to find x
a^2 + b^2 = c^2
x^2 + 9^2 = 15^2
x^2 + 81 = 225
x^2 + 81-81 = 225-81
x^2 = 144
sqrt(x^2) = sqrt(144)
x = 12
The legs of this right triangle are 12 and 9. The vertical leg is 12 (rise) and the horizontal leg is 9 (run)
The legs will form the slope.
Slope = rise/run = 12/9 = 4/3
Take note at how I reduced the fraction fully
Final Answer: 4/3
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) (Show Source):
Answer by MathTherapy(10552)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! I can't figure out the answer to this question. When I complete it, I get m=-15/9. Can you help me?
A 15 foot ladder is leaning against a house with its bottom 9 feet from the base of
the house. What is the slope of the ladder? Select the correct answer, then either show your work or explain your answer.
a) 9/15
b) Square root of 24
c) 12
d) 4/3
e) 15
With the the hypotenuse being 15 ft, and a leg, 9, this triangle represents a 3-4-5 special right triangle
Length of ladder = 15 (3 * 5)
Distance of bottom of ladder from house: 6 (3 * 3)
Therefore, distance ladder is from base of house is: 3 * 4, or 12
m, or slope =  , or  , or  (CHOICE d)
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