Question 78861

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.

<pre>

  |\
  | \
H |  \  L
= |   \
17|    \
  |     \
  |======
     B = 14
</pre>

This is a right triangle so the Pythagorean Theorem applies:
 {{{ B^2 + H^2 = L^2 }}} 
{{{ L^2 = 14^2 + 17^2 = 196 + 289 = 485 }}}
{{{ L = sqrt(485) }}} which is 22.023 when I round it to the 3rd decimal place.