Question

Find the slope of a pipe that slopes down 1/5 inch per foot.

Answer 1

`-(1)/(60)`

Explanation:

`\text{Rate }=-(1)/(5) in/foot`

It is negative because slopes down.

Slope is dimensionless quantity.

So, change the rate in/foot dimensionless.

As we know, 1 foot = 12 in

`\text{Slope }=-\frac{1\text{ in}}{5\text{ foot}}* \frac{1\text{ foot}}{12\text{ in}}`

cancel in and foot from top and bottom

`\text{Slope }=-(1)/(5)* (1)/(12)`

`\text{Slope }=-(1)/(5* 12)`

`\text{Slope }=-(1)/(60)`

Hence, the slope is
`-(1)/(60)`

Answer 2

-1/60

Explanation:

The slope is "down 1/5 inch per foot".

As a unitless fraction, it is ...

(-1/5 in)/(12 in) = -1/60