Question

A ladder is placed on a wall at a 60 degree angle with the ground. The ladder is 24 feet tall. How far from the base of the wall is the ladder standing?

Answer 1

Use cosine identity:

$\begin{gathered} \cos (\theta)=\frac{adjacent}{hypotenuse} \\ \cos (60)=\frac{x}{24} \\ \text{solve for x:} \\ x=24\cdot\cos (60)=12ft \end{gathered}$