Question

A 28-foot ladder is placed against a building. The bottom of the ladder is 3 feet from the building. If the top of the ladder slips down 4 feet, how far will the bottom of the ladder be from the bottom of the building? Round to the hundredths

Answer 1

`14.687\text{ feet`

Explanation:

Using Pythagorean theorem, the initial vertical distance of top of ladder from the bottom

`=\sqrt{28^2-3^2}`

`=5\sqrt31`

When top slids down by `4` feet from initial position then new vertical distance of top of ladder from the bottom will

`5\sqrt31-4`

Now, using Pythagorean theorem, the distance of bottom of latter from the building

`=\sqrt{28^2-(5\sqrt31-4)^2}`

`=14.687`

The distance of bottom of ladder from the building will be `14.687` feet