Question

98 POINT! A wheelchair ramp must form an angle no greater than 4.8 degrees with the ground. If a 1.8 foot high ramp is needed, what is the minimum horizontal length for the ramp so it satisfies the angle requirement?

Answer 1

The horizontal length must be at least 21. 4 ft

Explanation:

We can use trigonometry to solve.

tan theta = opposite side over adjacent side

tan 4.8 = 1.8/ x where x is the horizontal side

Multiply each side by x

x tan 4.8 = 1.8

Divide each side by tan 4.8

x = 1.8 / tan 4.8

x = 21.4356283 ft

The horizontal length must be at least 21. 4 ft