Chameleon needs to fix the window on the front of her house the bottom of the window is 16 ft from the ground she only has a 20 ft ladder how far from the base of the house should she set up the ladder so that the top of the ladder is exactly at the bottom of the window
To solve this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. Let x be the distance from the base of the house to where the ladder is set up.
According to the Pythagorean theorem, the length of the ladder (20 ft) squared is equal to the sum of the distance from the base of the house (x) squared and the height of the window (16 ft) squared.
So, we have the equation: x^2 + 16^2 = 20^2
Simplifying, we have: x^2 + 256 = 400
Subtracting 256 from both sides, we get: x^2 = 144
Taking the square root of both sides, we have: x = ± 12
Since distance cannot be negative, the distance from the base of the house to where the ladder should be set up is 12 ft.
Therefore, Chameleon should set up the ladder 12 ft from the base of the house.