Question 573473
distance from wall = x
length of ladder = x+3 feet
height where it touches the wall = 9
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	

(x+3)^2=x^2+9^2

x^2+6x+9 = x^2+81
6x+9=81
6x=72
/6
x=12 

Length of ladder = 12+3 = 15 feet