a ramp 10ft long is connected to the back of a truck that is 4ft off the ground. how far away from the truck does the ramp touch the ground?

Answer 1

since it forms a triangle, use pythagorean theorem:
c^2 = a^2 + b^2
where c = 10, a = 4 (the height) and b is the unknown (the base),,
therefore:
10^2 = 4^2 + b^2
84 = b^2
b = 2*sqrt(21) = 9.165 ft

so there,, :)