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Home > CCG > Chapter 5 > Lesson 5.1.2 > Problem 5-18

5-18.

While shopping at his local home improvement store, Chen noticed that the directions for an extension ladder state, “This ladder is most stable when used at a  angle with the ground.” He wants to buy a ladder to paint a two-story house that is feet high. How long does his ladder need to be? Draw a diagram and set up an equation for this situation. Show all work.  

Draw a diagram comparable to the one below.

Right triangle with vertical leg against side of a house, hypotenuse is labeled, ladder = x, vertical leg labeled 26 feet, angle opposite vertical leg labeled 75 degrees.

Refer to the Math Notes box in Lesson 5.1.2 if you need help deciding which trigonometric ratio to use when solving for .