Question

A ladder 10 m long reaches a window 8 m above the ground. Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from base of the wall.

Answer 1

Solution: In this case, the ladder makes the hypotenuse, the height of top of the ladder is perpendicular and the distance of foot of the ladder from the base of the wall is the base.

So, h = 10 m, p = 8 m and b = ?

From Pythagoras theorem;

b² = h² – p²

Or, b² = 10² – 8²

= 100 – 64 = 36

Or, b = 6 m