Answer:
The ladder is 28.6 feet long.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given that:
Length of base = 17 feet
Length above the ground = 23 feet
These forms two legs of right angled triangle.
The length of ladder will be the hypotenuse.
Using Pythagorean theorem;
[tex]a^2+b^2=c^2\\(17)^2 + (23)^2 = c^2 \\289 + 529 = c^2 \\c^2 = 818[/tex]
Taking square root on both sides
[tex]\sqrt{c^2}=\sqrt{818}\\c=28.6[/tex]
Hence,
The ladder is 28.6 feet long.