The bottom of a ladder should be ____ away from the building as it is high.

• A. 1/2 inch
• B. 1 inch
• C. 1/8 inch
• D. 1/4'

Answer: (D)

The key idea is getting the ladder at the safe angle. The base should be about one-quarter of the ladder’s height away from the wall. This 4:1 rule keeps the ladder stable and reduces the chance of tipping or slipping—the higher you climb, the farther the base should stand out, roughly creating a 75-degree angle. For example, if you’re using a 16-foot ladder, the base should be about 4 feet out from the wall. Distances much smaller than this make the ladder too steep and unstable, while much larger gaps reduce stability as you’re further out than the ladder’s angle can safely support. Remember this proportional rule to set up the ladder safely every time.