Answer:
12 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
You have a right triangle with the hypotenuse = 13 and one leg = 5
Let x = distance above the ground that the ladder touches the wall
Now use the Pythagorean theorem
[tex]x^{2} + 5^{2} = 13^{2} \\x^{2} + 25 = 169\\x^{2} = 144\\x = \sqrt{144} = 12[/tex]
It looks like none of the choices are correct, because the answer is 12 ft.
By the way, it is impossible for the ladder to reach up the wall a distance longer the the length of the ladder. Think about it. OK?