Question

A ladder is placed 4 ft from the side of a building. The top of the ladder must be 13 ft off the ground. What is the shortest ladder that will do the job?

4^2 + 13^2 = x^2
16+169=185^
=34,225

Answer 1

16 + 169 = 185 = x^2
so
x = square root of 185 = 185^0.5
= 13.6