Right triangle hypotenuse = l (length of ladder) base leg = l-20 height leg = l-10
Pythgorean theorem
(l-20)2 + (l-10)2 = l2 Expand, simplify to
l2-60l+500 = 0 Quadratic formula yields l = 50 ft or 10 (throw out)
The Height leg = l-10 = 50 - 10 = 40 ft