SOLUTION: a 18-foot ladder is leaning against a house. the bottom of te ladder is 4 feet from the house. to the nearest tent of a foot. how high does the top of the ladder reach?

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: a 18-foot ladder is leaning against a house. the bottom of te ladder is 4 feet from the house. to the nearest tent of a foot. how high does the top of the ladder reach?      Log On


   

Question 264306: a 18-foot ladder is leaning against a house. the bottom of te ladder is 4 feet from the house. to the nearest tent of a foot. how high does the top of the ladder reach?
Found 2 solutions by Ruli, JBarnum:
Answer by Ruli(21) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a^ + 4^ = 18^
a^ + 16 = 324
a^ = 308
a = 17.5

Answer by JBarnum(2146) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use formula A%5E2%2BB%5E2=C%5E2 where A =4 feet B= top of ladder hieght and C= 18 feet
4%5E2%2BB%5E2=18%5E2
16%2BB%5E2=324
16%2BB%5E2-%2816%29=324-%2816%29
B%5E2=308
sqrt%28B%5E2%29=sqrt%28308%29
B=sqrt%28308%29
B=17.5499287
round to nearest tenth:
B=17.5