Final answer:
To calculate the length of the escalator with a vertical rise of 196 feet at a 10° angle, use the cosine function, resulting in dividing the vertical rise by the cosine of the angle to obtain the escalator length.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the escalator which has a vertical rise of 196 feet and rises at an angle of 10°, you can use the trigonometric function of cosine. The Cosine of an angle in a right triangle is defined as the ratio of the adjacent side (length of the escalator) to the hypotenuse (the vertical rise). Therefore, the length of the escalator 'L' can be calculated using the formula:
L = Vertical Rise / cos(Angle)
This translates to:
L = 196 / cos(10°)
Make sure to convert the angle to radians if your calculator is in radian mode, or to use the degree mode if your calculator has it. After calculating this, you will get the length of the escalator.