SOLUTION: The base of a 20 foot ladder is 15 feet from a house. How far up the house does the ladder reach?

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Question 524242: The base of a 20 foot ladder is 15 feet from a house. How far up the house does the ladder reach?
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 ladder acts as the hypotenuse
Pythagoras theorem

(Hyp)^2= (leg1)^2+
Hypotenuse = 20
leg1= 15
Leg2= ?

leg2^2=hyp^2-leg1^2
Leg2^2= 20 ^2
Leg2^2= 400 -
Leg2^2= 175
Leg2= sqrt%28175%29
Leg2= 13.23

The ladder touches the wall at a height of 13.23 ft

m.ananth@hotmail.ca