Answer:
The highest floor that the ladder could safely reach is approximately 38.73 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
OSHA requirement for the use of non-self-supporting ladders includes the requirement that the horizontal distance between the point at the top where the ladder is supported and the foot of the ladder should be about a quarter of the ladder's working length
The given length of the longest ladder available at hardware stores, l = 40 feet
Therefore;
The horizontal distance between top support and the foot of the ladder, d = 1/4 × 40 feet = 10 feet
According to Pythagoras theorem, the height, 'h', of the ladder is goven as follows;
l² = d² + h²
∴ h² = l² - d²
Therefore, we have;
h² = 40² - 10² = 1500
h = √1500 = 10·√15
Therefore, the height of the highest floor that can be safely reached with the ladder, h = 10·√15 feet ≈ 38.73 feet.
