Question 325877
the ladder , ground and the wall form a right triangle.
The ladder is the hypotenuse of the triangle.
leg1 xfeet ( distance from the wall)
leg2= 18feet
hyp= x+6 feet( length of ladder)

..
x^2+18^= (x+6)^2
x^2+324= x^2+12x+36
x^2-x^2-12x=-324+36
-12x=-288
x=-288/-12
x=24 distance from the wall.
Length of ladder = 24+6 = 30 feet
..
CHECK
18^2+24^2= 30^2
900 = 900



The length of ladder feet 30 feet