Answer:
the bottom of the ladder is 12.69 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
How far does the bottom of the ladder need to be for the 15-foot ladder?
He is trying to reach a window that is 8 feet from the ground
The ladder form a right angle triangle with the window
hypotenuse is 15 foot
ladder is 8 feet from the ground
Use pythagorean theorem
[tex]c^2=a^2+b^2[/tex]
[tex]15^2=a^2+8^2[/tex]
[tex]225=a^2+64[/tex]
Subtract 64 from both sides
[tex]161=a^2[/tex]
Take square root on both sides
a= 12.69
the bottom of the ladder is 12.69 feet
