Answer: the distance of the base of the house to the foot of the ladder is 6.84 feet
Explanation:
The scenario is shown in the attached photo.
Right angle triangle ABC is formed when the ladder leans against the wall of the house.
AC = the height of the ladder
AB = x feet = distance of the base of the house to the foot of the ladder
BC is the wall of the building.
To determine x, we will apply trigonometric ratio
Cos # = adjacent/hypotenuse
Where
# = 70 degrees
Hypotenuse = 20
Adjacent = x
Cos 70 = x/20
x = 20cos70
x = 20 × 0.3420
x = 6.84 feets