SOLUTION: A building is 3ft from a 9-ft fence that surrounds the property. A worker wants to wash a window in the building 14ft from the ground. He plans to place a ladder over the fence so

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: A building is 3ft from a 9-ft fence that surrounds the property. A worker wants to wash a window in the building 14ft from the ground. He plans to place a ladder over the fence so       Log On


   

Question 1084866: A building is 3ft from a 9-ft fence that surrounds the property. A worker wants to wash a window in the building 14ft from the ground. He plans to place a ladder over the fence so it rests against the building. He decides he should place the ladder 8 ft from the fence for stability. To the nearest tenth of a foot, how long a ladder will he need?
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, addingup:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It's a right triangle.
Sides are 11 and 14 feet.
Find the hypotenuse.

Answer by addingup(3677) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Did you draw it? I did.
The height of the fence is irrelevant. The bottom of the ladder is 3+8 = 11 feet from the building. The window is 14ft above the ground:
sqrt(14^2+11^2) = length of your ladder. Use your calculator.
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