A ladder is placed against a wall, with its base 2 m from the wall. The ladder touches the top of a 2 m fence that is 1.5 m from the wall. How high up the wall does the ladder reach?

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2 answers

Draw the figure.

Use proportion.

.5/2=2/h
The two triangles are similar because they both have a right angle and they share another angle. The triangle is similar through AA~.
H 2 = H= 2 X 1.33= 2.66
2 = 1.5 H=2.66
Therefore, the ladder reaches 2.66m up the wall.