SOLUTION: A 15-foot ladder is resting against a wall and makes an angle of 48 deg with the ground. Find the height to which the ladder will reach on the wall.

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Question 1023577: A 15-foot ladder is resting against a wall and makes an angle of 48 deg with the ground. Find the height to which the ladder will reach on the wall.
Answer by mathmate(429) About Me  (Show Source):
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Question:
A 15-foot ladder is resting against a wall and makes an angle of 48 deg with the ground. Find the height to which the ladder will reach on the wall.

Solution:
A wall is usually perpendicular to the ground.
Length of ladder at a slant of 48° from the ground, so 15' is the hypotenuse.
We need the vertical reach (height) of ladder, which is opposite to the 48° angle. Denote this by H.
By definition
sin(48°)=opposite/hypotenuse = H/15
Cross-multiply and solve for H to give
H=15 sin(48°) = 15(0.7431)= 11.15'