quadratic question

Question

 

 

One end of a ladder is resting on the top of a vertical wall that is 3 feet high. The distance from the foot of the ladder to the base of the wall is 2 feet less than the length of the ladder. How long is the ladder? Suggestion: Recall the Pythagorean theorem, which says for legs a and b and hypotenuse c of a right triangle that
a2 + b2 = c2.
Apply this theorem to the figure below, where x is measured in feet.
x =

Answer 1

 

Draw the described right triangle and label its sides, relative to L, length of the ladder (hypotenuse).

Then follow directions (using Pythag. Th.).