SOLUTION: 3. A 20 ft. ladder is placed against the wall of building the ladder touches the building 12ft from its base. How far is the ladder from the foot of the ladder from the foot of the

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: 3. A 20 ft. ladder is placed against the wall of building the ladder touches the building 12ft from its base. How far is the ladder from the foot of the ladder from the foot of the      Log On


   

Question 665721: 3. A 20 ft. ladder is placed against the wall of building the ladder touches the building 12ft from its base. How far is the ladder from the foot of the ladder from the foot of the building?
Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The ladder,the floor & the wall form a right triangle.
The base is one leg The height is the other leg
The ladder acts as the hypotenuse
Pythagoras theorem

(Hyp)^2= (leg1)^2+ Leg2^2
Hypotenuse = 20 ft
leg1= 12 ft
Leg2= ?

leg2^2=hyp^2-leg1^2
Leg2^2= 20 ^2 - 12 ^2
Leg2^2= 400 - 144
Leg2^2= 256
Leg2= sqrt%28256%29
Leg2= 16 ft

The ladder touches the ground at a distance of 16 ft from the foot of building
m.ananth@hotmail.ca