A ladder 10 m long reaches the window of a house 8 m above the ground. Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from the base of the wall.

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

Let AB be the ladder and CA be the wall with the window at A.

Let the distance of foot of ladder from base of wall BC be x.

Also, AB = 10m and CA = 8m

From Pythagoras Theorem,

we have: AB² = BC² + CA²

⇒ (10)² = x² + 8²

⇒ x² = 100 – 64

⇒ x² = 36

⇒ x = 6m

So, BC = 6m.

Length of the ladder is 6m.