SOLUTION: If a homeowner places the top of a twenty foot ladder against the house and twelve feet above the ground, how far from the home is the base of the ladder? I do not know how to s

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Question 822962: If a homeowner places the top of a twenty foot ladder against the house and twelve feet above the ground, how far from the home is the base of the ladder?
I do not know how to set up the problem, please help.
Answer by rfer(16322) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a^2+b^2=c^2
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b^2=c^2-a^2
b^2=20^2-12^2
b^2=400-144
b^2=256
sqrt 256=16 ft