The formula that relates the length of a ladder, L, that leans against a wall with distance d from the base of the wall and the height h that the ladder reaches up the wall is mc024-1.jpg. What height on the wall will a 15-foot ladder reach if it is placed 3.5 feet from the base of a wall?
We will use the Pythagorean theorem to determine the height:\(h^{2}=15^{2} - 3.5^{2}\)\(h^{2} =225 - 12.25=212.75\) Finally: \(h= \sqrt{212.75}=14.5859\) Answer Ladder will reach the height of 14.59 feet ( to the nearest hundredths).
