Problema Solution

A man climbs a ladder so that his eye level is 10ft above the ground. There is an 8ft high fence three feet away from the ladder. Could the man see over the fence to an X on the ground that is 2ft beyond the fence?

Answer provided by our tutors

make a drawing and notice the similar right triangles


first find the closest spot where the man can see when looking over the fence. let that spot be d meters from the fence


using the similar triangles we can right


10 : 8 = (3+x) : x cross multiply


24 + 8x = 10x


x = 12 ft


since 2 < 12 the man can not see the spot that is 2 ft beyond the fence.