Question 510879
ladder is 23 feet (Hypotenuse)
when he drops the pail it falls 21 feet . so vertical distance = 21 feet.
(leg1)
Using Pythagoras theorem
hyp^2=leg1^2+leg2^2

Hyp^2-leg1^2= leg 2^2

23^2-21^2= leg2^2

sqrt((23)^2-(21)^2)= 9.38 

rounded of to 9 feet