SOLUTION: if you have a ladder measuring 20 ft high and the rule of thumb is 4 to 1- meaning for every 4 ft ladder length leaning against a wall, the base must be placed one foot away from t

Algebra ->  Pythagorean-theorem -> SOLUTION: if you have a ladder measuring 20 ft high and the rule of thumb is 4 to 1- meaning for every 4 ft ladder length leaning against a wall, the base must be placed one foot away from t      Log On


   

Question 759375: if you have a ladder measuring 20 ft high and the rule of thumb is 4 to 1- meaning for every 4 ft ladder length leaning against a wall, the base must be placed one foot away from the wall. Now suppose the person can reach a height of 3 ft above the ladder, how tall a house can be painted using this ladder?
Answer by Cromlix(4381) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Pythagoras.
Ladder represents the hypotenuse
of a right angled triangle.
The base side = 5 (20/4)
To find the height.
hypotenuse^2 = base^2 + height^2
height^2 = hypotenuse^2 - base^2
= 20^2 - 5^2
= 375
height = square root 375
= 19.4 ft
Therefore 19.4ft + 3ft = 22.4ft house can be painted.
Hope this helps.
:-)