$a = 4 \sec \theta$
$b = 32 \csc \theta$
Total length of rod:
$L = a + b$
$L = 4 \sec \theta + 32 \csc \theta$
$\dfrac{dL}{d\theta} = 4 \sec \theta \tan \theta - 32 \csc \theta \cot \theta = 0$
$\sec \theta \tan \theta - 8 \csc \theta \cot \theta = 0$
$\sec \theta \tan \theta = 8 \csc \theta \cot \theta$
$\dfrac{1}{\cos \theta} \left( \dfrac{\sin \theta}{\cos \theta} \right) = 8 \left( \dfrac{1}{\sin \theta} \right) \left( \dfrac{\cos \theta}{\sin \theta} \right)$
$\dfrac{\sin^3 \theta}{\cos^3 \theta} = 8$
$\tan^3 \theta = 8$
$\tan \theta = 2$
$L = 4 \sec \theta + 32 \csc \theta$
$L = 4 \left( \dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{1} \right) + 32 \left( \dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{2} \right)$
$L = 20\sqrt{5} = 44.72 \, \text{ ft}$ answer