For a 28-foot ladder, how far from the base of the building should the bottom be placed?

For a 28-foot ladder, how far from the base of the building should the bottom be placed?

• A. 7'
• B. 8'
• C. 5'
• D. 6'

Answer: (A)

The safe ladder angle is the key idea here. Use the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 feet of ladder length, place the base 1 foot from the wall. For a 28-foot ladder, that comes to 28 ÷ 4 = 7 feet. This puts the ladder at about a 75-degree angle, which is the standard, safer climbing angle to reduce slipping and tipping. Placing the base closer (5 or 6 feet) creates a steeper angle and higher tip risk, while placing it farther away (8 feet) makes the angle too shallow and the ladder more prone to slipping at the base. So, 7 feet is the best distance.

The safe ladder angle is the key idea here. Use the 4-to-1 rule: for every 4 feet of ladder length, place the base 1 foot from the wall. For a 28-foot ladder, that comes to 28 ÷ 4 = 7 feet. This puts the ladder at about a 75-degree angle, which is the standard, safer climbing angle to reduce slipping and tipping. Placing the base closer (5 or 6 feet) creates a steeper angle and higher tip risk, while placing it farther away (8 feet) makes the angle too shallow and the ladder more prone to slipping at the base. So, 7 feet is the best distance.