A ladder of 7.6 m long is standing against a wall and the distance between the wall and the base of the a ladder is 6.4 m. If the top of the ladder now slips by 1.2m, then the foot of the ladder shifts by approximately:

The starting position of ladder is AB.

AB = 7.6 cm and OB = 6.4 cm

Applying Pythagoras Theorem in $$\triangle$$ AOB

$$OA^{2}$$ + $$OB^{2}$$ = $$AB^{2}$$

OA = 4.10 cm

Now ladder top slips by 1.2 cm, the new position of ladder becomes A'B'

OA' = 4.10 - 1.2 = 2.9 cm

Applying Pythagoras Theorem in $$\triangle$$ A'OB'

$$OA'^{2}$$ + $$OB'^{2}$$ = $$A'B'^{2}$$

OB' = 7.02 cm

 Hence, the foot of the ladder is shifted by approximately OB' - OB = 0.6cm