A 13 foot ladder is leaning on a tree. The bottom of the ladder is on the ground at a distance of five feet from the base of the tree. The base of the tree and the ground form a right angle as shown:
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Question

A 13 foot ladder is leaning on a tree. The bottom of the ladder is on the ground at a distance of five feet from the base of the tree. The base of the tree and the ground form a right angle as shown:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/ufiles.edcite.net/u/dormanmath/tree_question1816.JPG

anonymous · Answer

plz help me! i think it is 8

anonymous · Answer

it is not 8

anonymous · Answer

solve 
$$5^2+x^2=13^2$$ for $x$

anonymous · Answer

$$5 \tan \left(\cos ^{-1}\left(\frac{5}{13}\right)\right)=12 $$