Maleek rested a 15.5-foot ladder against a building. the base of the ladder is 8.2 feet from the building. how far up the building does the ladder reach? to the nearest tenth of a foot, about how far up the building does the ladder reach?

Here is the set up:

Use a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Let c = length of ladder

Let b = distance of ladder's base from the building.

We must find a.

(a)^2 + (8.2)^2 = (15.5)^2

a^2 = (15.5)^2 - (8.2)^2

a^2 = 173.01

Take the square root on both sides.

sqrt{a^2} = sqrt{173.01}

a = 13.1533265754

We now round off to the nearest tenth of a foot.

a = 13.2 feet

Did you follow?