The foot of a 20 ft. ladder is 12 ft. from the base of a house. How far up the side of the house does the ladder reach?

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Answer 1 · 2016-03-15T15:32:07

The ladder reaches # 16# feet up the side of the house.

Let #c# denote the ladder.
#c = 20# feet

#b # denotes distance of the base of the ladder to the house.
#b = 12# feet.

we are required to calculate the value of #a:#

Using the Pythagoras Theorem:
#c^2= b^2 + a^2#

#20^2= 12^2 + a^2#

#400 = 144 + a^2#

#400 - 144 = a^2#

# a^2 = 256#

# a=sqrt 256#

#a= 16# feet.