If 40 feet of a 50 foot extension ladder is used, how far away should the butt of the ladder be placed from the building?

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

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is leaning ladders at the proper angle for stability. For extension ladders, a safe rule of thumb is to place the base about one-quarter of the ladder’s working length away from the wall, which gives a ladder angle of roughly 75 degrees. If the ladder is extended to 40 feet, the base should be about 40 ÷ 4 = 10 feet from the building. This position lets you reach high enough while keeping the ladder stable and less prone to tipping or slipping. If you set the base much closer (like 5 feet), the angle becomes too steep (nearly vertical), increasing tipping risk; if you move it farther out (like 15 or 20 feet), the angle becomes too shallow and stability or reach can be compromised. So, about 10 feet away is the correct, safe placement.