At what distance should the "butt" or "feet" be placed when laddering at a height of 12'?

The correct distance for positioning the "butt" or "feet" of the ladder when extending a ladder to a height of 12 feet is three feet away from the base of the structure. This is based on the standard ladder placement rule, which suggests that for every four feet of vertical height, the base of the ladder should be one foot away from the building.

In this scenario, when the ladder is set to a height of 12 feet, it follows the ratio effectively: for every four feet of height, the ladder should be placed one foot away from the wall. As 12 feet can be broken down into three segments of four feet, the base of the ladder should therefore be three feet from the wall to ensure stability and safety when climbing or working from the ladder. This distance helps to prevent the ladder from tipping over and allows for a more efficient and secure ascent and descent.