Question

A ladder 17 m long reaches a window of a building 15 m above the ground. Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from the building.

Answer 1

In ΔABC, by Pythagoras theorem
AB² + BC² = AC²
⇒ 15² + BC² = 17²
⇒ 225 + BC² = 172
⇒ BC³ = 289 − 225
⇒ BC² = 64

⇒ BC = 8 m

Distance of the foot of the ladder from building =8