A 16 foot ladder is leaning up against the wall. If the bottom of the latter is 6 feet from the base of the wall, how far up the wall does the ladder reach

For this question, you must use the Pythagorean theorem.

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

In this situation c=16 and a=6

First do 16^2. This equals 256

Second do 6^2. This equals 36

Now, subtract 36 from 256 and fond the square root.

Your answer should be 14.8