Answer:
9.5 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
We have that,
Height of the point at the wall where the ladder is leaned = 9 feet
Horizontal distance between the ladder and wall = 3 feet.
So, we get the right triangle as shown in the figure.
Using 'Pythagoras Theorem', i.e. [tex]hypotenuse^{2}=perpendicular^{2}+base^{2}[/tex], we get,
[tex]x^{2}=9^{2}+3^{2}[/tex]
i.e. [tex]x^{2}=81+9[/tex]
i.e. [tex]x^{2}=90[/tex]
i.e. x = 9.5 feet.
Thus, the length of the ladder must be 9.5 feet.