Q. 22 - Geometry

Question

 A wheelchair ramp is to be built at the town library. If the entrance to the library is 18 in. above ground, and the slope of the ramp is , how far out from the building will the ramp start?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The ramp will start 270 inches apart from the building.

Step-1 – Given

A wheelchair ramp is to be built at the town library. If the entrance to the library is 18 inch above ground and the slope of the ramp is $\frac{1}{15}$.

Step-2 – To determine

We have to find how far out from the building, the ramp will start.

Step-3 – Calculation

According to the question we consider this figure below:

Let us assume, x= the distance between the building and the ramp.

So, 

$\begin{array}{l}\text{slope}=\tan \theta =\frac{18}{x}=\frac{1}{15}\\ \frac{18}{x}=\frac{1}{15}\\ x=18\times 15=270\text{ in.}\end{array}$

So, the ramp will start 270 inches apart from the building.