To solve this problem we will use the following diagram:
where d is the distance between the base of the ladder and the wall.
Using the cosine we get:
[tex]\cos 61^{\circ}=\frac{d}{26ft}.[/tex]
Multiplying the above equation by 26ft we get:
[tex]\begin{gathered} \cos 61^{\circ}\times26ft=\frac{d}{26ft}\times26ft\text{.} \\ d=26ft\cdot\cos 61^{\circ}\text{.} \end{gathered}[/tex]
Then:
[tex]d\approx12.60505013ft\approx12.61ft.[/tex]
Answer: 12.61.
