Solve the problem.
-A ladder that is 17 feet long is 8 feet from the base of a wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?
A) 225 ft
B) 3 ft
C) $\sqrt { 353 } $ ft
D) 15 ft

Question

Solve the problem.
-A ladder that is 17 feet long is 8 feet from the base of a wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?
A) 225 ft 
B) 3 ft 
C) $\sqrt { 353 } $ ft
D) 15 ft

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the Pythagorean theorem, $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$, where $a$ and $b$ are the legs of a right triangle and $c$ is the hypotenuse. Here, $a = 8$ ft (distance from the wall), $c = 17$ ft (length of the ladder), so we solve for $b$ (height up the wall): $8^2 + b^2 = 17^2$, which simplifies to $64 + b^2 = 289$. Subtracting 64 from both sides gives $b^2 = 225$, and taking the square root of both sides gives $b = 15$ ft.

Solve the Problem 353\sqrt { 353 } 353​ Ft D) 15 Ft

Solve the Problem $\sqrt { 353 }$ Ft
D) 15 Ft