Ask Question
9 December, 20:05

The top of a 16-foot ladder is 2 feet farther up a wall than the foot is from the bottom of the wall. How far is the ladder from the bottom of the wall?

+2
Answers (1)
  1. 9 December, 21:39
    0
    Let x=distance of foot of ladder from the wall, then

    x+2=height of top of ladder up the wall.

    length of ladder = 16 feet.

    Using Pythagoras theorem,

    x^2 + (x+2) ^2=16^2, expand and simplify

    2x^2+4x+4 = 256 again simplify

    x^2+2x-126=0 [fail to factor]

    apply quadratic equation:

    x = (-2+/-sqrt (4+504)) / 2

    =-1+/-sqrt (127)

    x=-12.3 (rejected) or

    x=10.27 feet from wall.
Know the Answer?
Not Sure About the Answer?
Get an answer to your question ✅ “The top of a 16-foot ladder is 2 feet farther up a wall than the foot is from the bottom of the wall. How far is the ladder from the bottom ...” in 📙 Mathematics if there is no answer or all answers are wrong, use a search bar and try to find the answer among similar questions.
Search for Other Answers