Please HELP, Fan and Medal
John leaned a 17-foot ladder against his house. He placed the base of the ladder 8 feet from his house, and the top of the lader reached the base of his window. How high is the base of his window from the ground? If needed, draw a picture to help you solve the problem.

A.What formula would you use to solve this problem.
B. Show all work. Make sure to label your answer.

Question

Please HELP, Fan and Medal
John leaned a 17-foot ladder against his house.  He placed the base of the ladder 8 feet from his house, and the top of the lader reached the base of his window.  How high is the base of his window from the ground?  If needed, draw a picture to help you solve the problem. 

A.What formula would you use to solve this problem.
B. Show all work.  Make sure to label your answer.

anonymous · Answer

@sourwing

anonymous · Answer

A. You use Pythagoras Theorem... a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c represents the hypotenuse of the triangle. In this case, the ladder is the hypotenuse so c has value 17, and for the sake of argument, a is the floor distance and so has value 8. 

B. 8^2 + b^2 = 17^2 

64 + b^2 = 289 

b^2 = 225 

b = 15.