SOLUTION: A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is 3 feet less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if

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Question 1032266: A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is 3 feet less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is \sqrt(39) feet.
Answer by ikleyn(52778) About Me  (Show Source):
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A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is 3 feet less than the length of the ladder.
Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is \sqrt(39) feet. 

Vertical leg,     r-3

Horizontal leg,   sqrt%2839%29

Hypotenuse,        r

%28r-3%29%5E2+%2B+39 = r%5E2,

r%5E2+-+6r+%2B+9+%2B+39 = r%5E2,

6r = 39%2B9,

6r = 48,

r = 48%2F6 = 8 feet.