Question

The recommended angle for a wheelchair ramp is 5 degrees. If the rise of the ramp to go up the steps is 5 feet, find the horizontal run length that the ramp must start. (Round to one decimal place)

Answer 1

`57.2\ ft`

Explanation:

we know that

The formula of slope is "rise over run", where the "rise" (means change in y, up or down) and the "run" (means change in x, left or right)

In this problem

The tangent of angle of 5 degrees is equal to the quotient of "rise over run"

Let

y ----> the rise of the ramp

x ----> the run of the ramp

`tan(5^o)=(y)/(x)`

we have

`y=5\ ft`

substitute and solve for x

`tan(5^o)=(5)/(x)`

`x=(5)/(tan(5^o))`

`x=57.2\ ft`