QuestionAugust 27, 2025

Samuel places a ladder against his house. The base of the ladder is 6 feet from the house and the ladder is 10 feet long. How high above the ground does the ladder touch the wall of the house? a 10 feet b 6 feet C 16 feet d 8 feet

Samuel places a ladder against his house. The base of the ladder is 6 feet from the house and the ladder is 10 feet long. How high above the ground does the ladder touch the wall of the house? a 10 feet b 6 feet C 16 feet d 8 feet
Samuel places a ladder against his house. The base of the ladder
is 6 feet from the house and the ladder is 10 feet long. How high
above the ground does the ladder touch the wall of the house?
a 10 feet
b 6 feet
C 16 feet
d 8 feet

Solution
4.7(280 votes)

Answer

8 feet Explanation 1. Identify the right triangle The ladder, wall, and ground form a right triangle with the ladder as the hypotenuse. 2. Apply Pythagorean theorem Use **a^2 + b^2 = c^2** where c is the hypotenuse (10 feet), and a is the distance from the house (6 feet). 3. Solve for height Let b be the height. Then 6^2 + b^2 = 10^2. Calculate b: 36 + b^2 = 100 \Rightarrow b^2 = 64 \Rightarrow b = \sqrt{64} = 8.

Explanation

1. Identify the right triangle<br /> The ladder, wall, and ground form a right triangle with the ladder as the hypotenuse.<br /><br />2. Apply Pythagorean theorem<br /> Use **$a^2 + b^2 = c^2$** where $c$ is the hypotenuse (10 feet), and $a$ is the distance from the house (6 feet).<br /><br />3. Solve for height<br /> Let $b$ be the height. Then $6^2 + b^2 = 10^2$. Calculate $b$: <br /> $36 + b^2 = 100 \Rightarrow b^2 = 64 \Rightarrow b = \sqrt{64} = 8$.
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