Question

Question 128

Solve the following question:

A 5.5 m long ladder is leaned against a wall. The ladder reaches the wall to a height of 4.4 m. Find the distance between the wall and the foot of the ladder.

Answer 1

Let the distance between the wall and the foot of the ladder be $x$ m.

In right-angled $\Delta ABC$, by using Pythagoras theorem, we get

$B{C}^2=A{B}^2+A{C}^2\Rightarrow (5.5{)}^2=x^2+(4.4{)}^2\Rightarrow x^2=(5.5{)}^2-(4.4{)}^2\Rightarrow x^2=30.25-19.36\Rightarrow x^2=10.89\Rightarrow x=\sqrt{10.89}\therefore x=3.3m$
Hence, the distance between the wall and the foot of the ladder is 3.3 m.