SOLUTION: The bottom of a ladder must be placed 3 feet from a wall. The ladder is 12 feet long. How far above the ground does the ladder touch the wall?

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: The bottom of a ladder must be placed 3 feet from a wall. The ladder is 12 feet long. How far above the ground does the ladder touch the wall?       Log On


   

Question 549186: The bottom of a ladder must be placed 3 feet from a wall. The ladder is 12 feet long. How far above the ground does the ladder touch the wall?
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 =12ft
leg1=3ft
Leg2=? ?

leg2^2=hyp^2-leg1^2
Leg2^2= 12^2-3^2
Leg2^2= 144-9
Leg2^2= 135
Leg2= sqrt%28175%29
Leg2= 11.62 ft ==>5sqrt%287%29

The ladder touches the wall at a height of 11.62ft
m.ananth@hotmail.ca