Answer: 13 ft
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario described forms a right angled triangle.
The Pythagorean rule therefore applies:
c² = a² + b²
c = hypotenuse( distance we are looking for)
a = base
b = height
c² = 12² + 5²
c² = 144 + 25
c = √(144 + 25)
c = √169
c = 13 ft