A ladder is leaning against a building, forming a 70° angle with the ground. The base of the ladder is 8.2 ft from the base of the building.

What is the length of the ladder?

Question

A ladder is leaning against a building, forming a 70° angle with the ground. The base of the ladder is 8.2 ft from the base of the building.

What is the length of the ladder?

OLIVER69 · Answer

The length of the ladder is 23.97 ft

cos70 degrees = 8.2/c

Simplify the equation to solve for c

c = 8.2/cos70 degrees ≈ 23.97 ft

UsernameTaken · Answer

Thank you, but how do you know it's cosine?

OLIVER69 · Answer

you're welcome and this is how I knew it was cosine

UsernameTaken · Answer

Thank you so much, the visual is very helpful