Solution:
Given:
The right triangle can be sketched as shown below;
To get the distance between the building and the base of the ladder, we use the Pythagoras theorem since it is a right triangle.
[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{hypotenuse}^2=\text{adjacent}^2+\text{opposite}^2 \\ \\ \text{where;} \\ \text{hypotenuse}=10 \\ \text{adjacent}=x \\ \text{opposite}=8 \end{gathered}[/tex]
Hence,
[tex]\begin{gathered} \text{hypotenuse}^2=\text{adjacent}^2+\text{opposite}^2 \\ 10^2=x^2+8^2 \\ 100=x^2+64 \\ 100-64=x^2 \\ 36=x^2 \\ x=\sqrt[]{36} \\ x=6 \end{gathered}[/tex]
Therefore, the distance between the building and the base of the ladder in feet is 6 feet.
