For a 60 ft ladder, what is the base distance from the wall?

For a 60 ft ladder, what is the base distance from the wall?

• A. 5 ft
• B. 10 ft
• C. 20 ft
• D. 15 ft

Answer: (D)

The safe angle for a ladder is achieved using the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 feet of ladder height, place the base 1 foot from the wall. This keeps the ladder at about a 75-degree angle and provides stability. For a 60-foot ladder, the base distance should be 60 ÷ 4 = 15 feet from the wall. So 15 feet is the correct distance. The other options don’t fit this safe ratio: the base would be too close, too far, or not aligned with the recommended angle, leading to instability.

The safe angle for a ladder is achieved using the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 feet of ladder height, place the base 1 foot from the wall. This keeps the ladder at about a 75-degree angle and provides stability. For a 60-foot ladder, the base distance should be 60 ÷ 4 = 15 feet from the wall. So 15 feet is the correct distance. The other options don’t fit this safe ratio: the base would be too close, too far, or not aligned with the recommended angle, leading to instability.