17
QuizMultiple Choice

Unknown Leg Lengths in Right Triangles

Question 17 • ELPGEQ1 M/J Grade 8 Pre-Algebra - 1205070 HCPS V24

How long a ladder must you have to reach the top of a 15-foot wall if the bottom of the ladder is placed 4 feet from the base of the wall? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot.

Answer
A
14.5 ft
B
15.5 ft
C
17.0 ft
D
19.0 ft

Explanation

The wall and ground form the two legs of a right triangle, and the ladder is the hypotenuse. Use the Pythagorean theorem: ladder length = √(15² + 4²) = √241 ≈ 15.5 feet. So the correct choice is 15.5 ft.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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