Question
The foot of an extension ladder is 9ft from a wall. The height that the ladder reaches on the wall and the length of the ladder are consecutive integers. How long is the ladder?
Answers
The simplest ratio of sides of a right-angled triangle is the 3:4:5 ratio
so we have 9:x:y, clearly x = 12, and y = 15
check: 9^2 + 12^2 = 15^2 , YES
so we have 9:x:y, clearly x = 12, and y = 15
check: 9^2 + 12^2 = 15^2 , YES
9^2+x^2=(x+1)^2
81+x^2 = x^2+2x+1
x=40
So, the ladder is 41 ft long.
That's some ladder!
81+x^2 = x^2+2x+1
x=40
So, the ladder is 41 ft long.
That's some ladder!
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