Triangle 1 and triangle 2 are similar right triangles formed from a ladder leaning against a building.
Triangle 1 Triangle 2
The distance, along the ground, from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 18 feet. The distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building is 27 feet. The distance, along the ground, from the bottom of the ladder to the building is 10 feet. The distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building is unknown.
Determine the distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building for triangle 2.
6 feet
10 feet
15 feet
25 feet
To determine the distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building for triangle 2, we can set up a proportion using the information given for triangle 1.
Let x be the unknown distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building for triangle 2.
Using the ratio of the distances along the ground to the distances from the bottom of the building for triangle 1, we have:
18/27 = 10/x
Cross multiplying, we get:
18x = 270
Dividing by 18, we find:
x = 15 feet
Therefore, the distance from the bottom of the building to the point where the ladder is touching the building for triangle 2 is 15 feet.