Laddar Diagram: The instructions for a 13 foot ladder....

A

atwana_b

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The instructions for a 13 foot ladder state that the bottom of the ladder must be set at least 5 feet from a building. How high can the ladder safely reach on the garage?

A. 18 feet
B. 65 feet
C. 12 feet
D. 8 feet

Can you solve this problem and show your work?
 
Re: Laddar Diagram

atwana_b said:
The instructions for a 13 foot ladder state that the bottom of the ladder must be set at least 5 feet from a building. How high can the ladder safely reach on the garage?
Click to expand...
If you draw the picture, you will have a right triangle with the short side of x = 5 and the hypotenuse z = 13.

From x^2 + y^2 = z^2 you should be able to determine your answer.
 
Laddar Diagram

Thanks for your response. Can you explain what function the ^ has in the equation in your response?
 
Re: Laddar Diagram

atwana_b said:
Can you explain what function the ^ has in the equation in your response?
Click to expand...
Exponentiation is standardly indicated with the carat symbol. So the Pythagorean Theorem, "x<sup>2</sup> + y<sup>2</sup> = z<sup>2</sup>", would be formatted as "x^2 + y^2 = z^2".

Eliz.
 
Laddar Diagram

Ok.....

so 5^2 + y^2 = 13^2

or 25 + y^2 = 169

I'm lost after this. I have the answer and it is 12, but I can't figure it out. What did I do wrong?
 
Re: Laddar Diagram

atwana_b said:
I'm lost after this.
Click to expand...
Follow the standard procedure for isolating the variable that you learned for solving linear equations: Subtract 25 from both sides.

Then take the square root.

Eliz.
 
Laddar Diagram

Ok, I think I needed some sleep.

y^2 = 169-25
y^2 = 144
y = 12

Thanks a lot.

So, I use the x^2 + y^2 = z^2 equation anytime I am dealing with angles?
 
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