a 13 foot ladder is leaning against a building, with the base of the ladder 2 feet from the building. how high up on the building will the top ladder reach
Pythagorean Theorem, 2^2 + b^2 = 13^2, ladder is 13ft regardless of orientation so treat it has hypotenuse b^2 = 13^2 - 4 b = sqrt (13^2 - 4) Note, -b works as well since (-b)^2 = b^2 but it isn't applicable in this context.
