A ladder 10 meters long is leaning against a vertical wall. If the bottom of the ladder is pulled 3 meters away from the wall, how high does the top of the ladder reach on the wall?

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:26:06 +0000

**The quiet math behind a leaning ladder — why distance changes height** Imagine a 10-meter ladder standing firm against a vertical wall. Its base rests firmly, then slowly moves 3 meters away. What happens to the top of the ladder? Does it drop? Climb higher? Science and geometry reveal a precise, predictable shift — and understanding it offers insight into how tools and structures behave under pressure. At first glance, it seems counterintuitive: pulling the base outward might push the top upward. But the answer lies in the interplay between ladder length, wall distance, and the angle it maintains. This mobility test isn’t just a physics puzzle — it’s a real-world scenario relevant to contractors, homeowners, students, and safety advocates. ### Why this question matters in modern life