Question 1032258
A ladder is leaning against a building so that the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder is 3 feet less than the length of the ladder. Find the length of the ladder if the distance from the bottom of the ladder to the building is sqrt(39) feet. 
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Sketch the picture.
You have a right triangle with height = L-3 ft
and base = sqrt(39)
and hypotenuse = L
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Equation:
L^2 = (sqrt(39))^2 + L^2 - 6L + 9
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6L = 39+9
L = 8 ft (length of the ladder)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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