Question

A 10-foot ladder is leaning against a wall. The base of the ladder is 2 feet from the base of the building. How far up the building does the ladder fall?

Answer 1

Well 10 x 2 = 20.

The building from the ladder is 20ft

Answer 2

Hi Kasey!

Here's your solution: Use Pythagoras' theorem to solve this problem:

a2+b2 = c2 (the ladder)

c2-a2 = b2 (height of wall)

100-16 = 84. The square root of 84 is 9.16515139

Therefore the ladder will reach 9 feet up the wall to the nearest foot.