Question

Emily is creating an obstacle course. One section of the course will have a 12 foot ladder leaning against a 10 footwall. How far from the wall should the bottom of the ladder be placed so that the ladder will reach the top of thewall? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot.

Answer 1

ANSWER

6.6 ft

EXPLANATION

The section of the course will contain a 12 foot ladder leaning against a 10 foot wall.

Let us draw a diagram of the situation:

This situation forms the shape of a Right Angle Triangle.

x represents the distance of the bottom of the ladder from the wall.

We can find the value of x by using Pythagoras rule:

$\text{hyp}^2=opp^2+adj^2$

From the question:

hyp = 12 ft

opp = 10 ft

adj = x ft

So, we have that:

$\begin{gathered} 12^2=10^2+x^2 \\ \Rightarrow144-100=x^2 \\ x^2=44^2 \\ x\text{ = }\sqrt[]{44} \\ x\text{ = 6.6 ft} \end{gathered}$

The wall should be 6.6 ft from the bottom of the ladder.