Question

A ladder is leaning up against a 70 foot wall at an angle of elevation of 38° how far is the foot of the latter from the wall? Round your answer to the nearest 10th of a foot

Answer 1

tanα=h/x

x=h/tanα

x=70/tan38 ft

x≈89.6 ft (to nearest tenth of a foot)

Note: the question seems strange, (because this would make the ladder almost 114 feet long!) or are we to assume as I did that the ladder is leaning against a point 70 feet high, or should if be a 70 foot ladder leaning against a wall of unknown height?

If it is just a 70 ft ladder at a 38° inclination the:

cosα=x/L

x=Lcosα

x=70cos38° ft

x≈55.2 ft