When placing a ladder against a 28-foot wall, what is the recommended distance from the bottom of the wall to the ladder?

• A. 7 ft
• B. 4 ft
• C. 6 ft
• D. 3 ft

Answer: (A)

Keep the ladder at a safe, stable angle using the 4:1 rule: for every 4 feet of vertical reach, place the base 1 foot out from the wall. Reaching 28 feet means the base should be about 28 ÷ 4 = 7 feet from the wall. This distance gives a comfortable angle near 75 degrees, which helps the ladder stay steady and reduces the risk of tipping or slipping. With that setup, you’ll need a ladder long enough to reach the top from that angle—roughly sqrt(28^2 + 7^2) ≈ 29 feet, so use about a 29-foot ladder. Distances like 4, 6, or 3 feet place the base at angles that are too steep or too shallow for safe use at 28 feet, making the ladder less stable.