Not sure if this belongs here as I’m new to math In general, please help

[Zachh073]

An 11.18m ladder is placed against a wall. The height from the floor to the top of the ladder has to be 5m longer than the length from the floor to the base of the ladder.
im given no other number and I’m really stuck on this question as I don’t know the formula or where to begin. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Otis]

length from the floor to the base of the ladder

Hi Zach. You meant to say the length from the wall to the ladder's base, yes?

I don’t know the formula or where to begin

The formula is called the Pythagorean Theorem. It's used to relate the three sides of a right triangle.

Draw a picture of the right triangle formed by leaning a ladder against a wall.

The longest side of the right triangle (called the hypotenuse) is the ladder, so label its length 11.18.

The base of the triangle represents the floor length between the ladder's bottom and the wall. Label that unknown distance x.

What expression can you write for the height of the triangle? (Hint: In the exercise statement, that height is stated in terms of x.)

Once you have expressions for all three sides, use the Pythagorean Theorem to write an equation to solve for x.

If you'd like more help, please share what you tried.

?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Draw a picture of the right triangle

Very sound advice - the first step.