How long should a wheel chair ramp be if the angle of incline is to be 33° and the vertical end of the ramp is to be 3 feet high? Round to the nearest tenth. 4.6 ft 1.6 ft 3.6 ft 5.5 ft A

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
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Author:James Stewart
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Chapter1: Functions And Models
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Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
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### Wheelchair Ramp Calculation

**Question:**
How long should a wheelchair ramp be if the angle of incline is to be 33° and the vertical end of the ramp is to be 3 feet high? Round to the nearest tenth.

**Options:**
A. 4.6 ft  
B. 1.6 ft  
C. 3.6 ft  
D. 5.5 ft

This problem involves calculating the length of a ramp using trigonometric principles. Specifically, it requires using the sine function to determine the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle, where:

- The angle of incline (θ) = 33°
- The height (opposite side) = 3 feet

Using the formula:
\[ \text{sin}(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \]

We solve for the hypotenuse:
\[ \text{hypotenuse} = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{sin}(\theta)} \]
\[ \text{hypotenuse} = \frac{3}{\text{sin}(33°)} \]

After calculating, choose the option closest to your result as the length of the ramp.

Identify the correct answer from the options given based on your computations.

**Explanation of Options:**
- **Option A: 4.6 ft** - This length may represent a ramp possibly conforming to accessibility standards.
- **Option B: 1.6 ft** - This length implies a very steep ramp, which is impractical.
- **Option C: 3.6 ft** - This length is more moderate.
- **Option D: 5.5 ft** - This is longer and may suggest a shallower ramp.

Choose the most accurate length after solving the trigonometric equation.
Transcribed Image Text:### Wheelchair Ramp Calculation **Question:** How long should a wheelchair ramp be if the angle of incline is to be 33° and the vertical end of the ramp is to be 3 feet high? Round to the nearest tenth. **Options:** A. 4.6 ft B. 1.6 ft C. 3.6 ft D. 5.5 ft This problem involves calculating the length of a ramp using trigonometric principles. Specifically, it requires using the sine function to determine the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle, where: - The angle of incline (θ) = 33° - The height (opposite side) = 3 feet Using the formula: \[ \text{sin}(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \] We solve for the hypotenuse: \[ \text{hypotenuse} = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{sin}(\theta)} \] \[ \text{hypotenuse} = \frac{3}{\text{sin}(33°)} \] After calculating, choose the option closest to your result as the length of the ramp. Identify the correct answer from the options given based on your computations. **Explanation of Options:** - **Option A: 4.6 ft** - This length may represent a ramp possibly conforming to accessibility standards. - **Option B: 1.6 ft** - This length implies a very steep ramp, which is impractical. - **Option C: 3.6 ft** - This length is more moderate. - **Option D: 5.5 ft** - This is longer and may suggest a shallower ramp. Choose the most accurate length after solving the trigonometric equation.
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