SOLUTION: The foot of an extension ladder is 15 ft from a wall. The ladder is 5 ft longer than the height that it reaches on the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?

Algebra ->  Problems-with-consecutive-odd-even-integers -> SOLUTION: The foot of an extension ladder is 15 ft from a wall. The ladder is 5 ft longer than the height that it reaches on the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?      Log On


   

Question 316434: The foot of an extension ladder is 15 ft from a wall. The ladder is 5 ft longer than the height that it reaches on the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use the Pythagorean theorem,
15%5E2%2BX%5E2=%28X%2B5%29%5E2
225%2BX%5E2=X%5E2%2B10X%2B25
10X%2B25=225
10X=200
X=20
The ladder reaches 20 feet up the wall and is 25 feet long.