Maleek rested a 15.5-foot ladder against a building. the base of the ladder is 8.2 feet from the building. how far up the building does the ladder reach? to the nearest tenth of a foot, about how far up the building does the ladder reach?

Here is the set up:

Use a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Let c = length of ladder

Let b = distance of ladder's base from the building.

We must find a.

(a)^2 + (8.2)^2 = (15.5)^2

a^2 = (15.5)^2 - (8.2)^2

a^2 = 173.01

Take the square root on both sides.

sqrt{a^2} = sqrt{173.01}

a = 13.1533265754

We now round off to the nearest tenth of a foot.

a = 13.2 feet

Did you follow?

1. 3.4/4

2. 0.8/7

3. 0.5 x 3

4. 0.9 x 6

5. 10.8

6. 2.35

7. 0.567

8. 9.35

9. 0.02

10. 0.06

11. 0.16

12. 0.42

13. 0.63

14. 5.6

15. 8.1

16. 9.9

17. 0.28

18. 0.48

19. 0.27

20. 0.49

21. 0.45

22. 0.72

23. 0.9

24. 0.88

25. 0.75

26. 0.16

27. 0.328

28. 0.495

29. 0.72

30. 1.068