SOLUTION: d...ch9 #31 THe base of a ladder is 14ft away from the wall. The top of the ladder is 17feet from the floor. Find the length of the ladder to the nearest thousandth.

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: d...ch9 #31 THe base of a ladder is 14ft away from the wall. The top of the ladder is 17feet from the floor. Find the length of the ladder to the nearest thousandth.       Log On

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Question 78861: d...ch9
#31
THe base of a ladder is 14ft away from the wall. The top of the ladder is 17feet from the floor. Find the length of the ladder to the nearest thousandth.

Answer by mathdoc314(58) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

I think you are supposed to see the ladder making a right triangle with the wall and the floor. In math land, all walls are vertical and all floors are horizontal. 

  |\
  | \
H |  \  L
= |   \
17|    \
  |     \
  |======
     B = 14

This is a right triangle so the Pythagorean Theorem applies:
+B%5E2+%2B+H%5E2+=+L%5E2+
+L%5E2+=+14%5E2+%2B+17%5E2+=+196+%2B+289+=+485+
+L+=+sqrt%28485%29+ which is 22.023 when I round it to the 3rd decimal place.