A painter leans a 15 foot ladder against the side of a house. The top of the ladder touches the house at a height that is 3 feet more than the distance from the house to the bottom of the ladder. How far is the bottom of the ladder from the house?

Answer 1

x^2 + (x+3)^2 = 15^2
hint: think of a 3-4-5 right triangle

Answer 2

15*15=225
x*x=x^2
(x+3)*(x+3)=X^2+9
225=x^2+x^2+9
225=2x^2+9
216=2x^2
108=x^2
10.39=x