Question

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

Answer 1

Let OA be the wall and AB be the ladder.

Therefore, by Pythagoras theorem,

AB2 = OA + BO

(10 m)² = (8m)² + OB²

100 m² = 64 m² + OB²

OB² = 36 m²

OB = 6 m

Therefore the distance of the foot of the ladder from the base of the wall is 6 m