A 26 foot ladder is leaning up against a building. How far is the bottom of the ladder from the building if it reaches 24 ft up on the building?

Question

There are no additional details I'm just not sure how to set up this problem.

Answer 1

Hello, Juanita,

 

This is a Pythagorean problem.  Note:  side² +side²= hypotenuse²

 

Draw a picture or model of what things look like and label the sides and the hypotenuse.

 

    |\    26 ft. ladder

24|  \

    ***base of ladder  

     x = distance from bottom of ladder to base of building?

 

You have a side missing, instead of the hypotenuse, which is the slanted side or the side opposite the 90 degree angle.

  side² + side²= hypotenuse²                             (24⁾²+ x² =(26)²               Note:  (24)= 24*24=576

 

I would like to let you finish your problem at this point.  Susan C.