Question 1085916
You say the short leg is 4 inches? That's very unlikely. The short leg is the opposite side (opposite the hypotenuse). Let's find out:
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Opposite side = sin(theta) times hypotenuse;
sin(45)*48 = 33.95 feet is the length of this leg, so please check out what that 4 inches is all about.
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Now let's find the adjacent side (the long leg), though we already know that it's going to be the same length as the one above (see explanation below):
Adjacent side = cos(theta)*hypotenuse
= cos(45)*48 = 33.95 this is the length of this leg
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NOTE: Why are the two legs the same length? Because 1)the angles of every triangle sum 180. Since we are dealing with a right triangle, we know that one angle = 90 and if the other equals 45 the third angle must also equal 45 degrees, thus making both legs the same length.
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How high up the side of the building?:
from the ground to the base of the ladder: 10
from the base of the ladder to the point where the ladder touches the building: 33.95
10+33.95 = 43.95 feet
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*[illustration aa_triang.JPG]