Can you do that?

The rules for setting up chess960 is that you need a rook on either side of the king. So can't you set up chess960 the EXACT SAME way as standard chess?

Yes, the standard chess position is one of the 960 different ways of arranging the back-rank and in fact is referred to as SP518 (start position number 518). Don't forget the rule about bishops having to be on opposite colours (which makes sense of course). A few of us 960 players have actually fluked the 1/960 chance of getting the standard position and it is fun when it happens, to reminisce about the old game.

So basically chess960 can be played as standard right?

yes, you got it. That's just a fancy name for the same thing.

Why chess960? Why not chess720??? ETC.

Because there are 960 different ways the board can be set up in chess960.

So why isn't it chess950 ?

sorry, meant 960

Can it have the pawn on the 1st rank?

No, pawns only on the 2nd row (and 7th for black).

Try Wikipedia for that.

So we can't move the pawns but can move the other pieces. Okay.