Pythagorean Theorem

A ladder that is 17 feet long is 8 feet from the base of a wall.
How far up the wall does the ladder reach?

Pythagorean Theorem
a2+ b2= c2{c is the hypotenuse...opposite the right angle}
a2+ 82= 172{substitute in to the Pythagorean Theorem}
a2+ 64 = 289
a2= 225 {subtract 64 from both sides}
a = 15 ft {take the square root of both sides}

- Algebra House