Final answer:
The statement is true as the ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is the distance along the plane divided by its change in height, in a frictionless context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true; the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of an inclined plane is calculated by dividing the distance along the inclined plane (distance over which the effort is applied) by its change in height (distance the load travels). This formula represents an ideal situation where there is no energy loss due to friction, which means the machine would have 100% efficiency. However, in real-world scenarios, no machine is 100% efficient due to the presence of friction, causing some of the input work to be converted to heat energy.
Using an inclined plane, the input work is generally easier because the applied effort force is distributed over a longer distance, which in turn makes the force required to lift the load smaller when compared with lifting the load directly upwards.