Expert: Bobby Soltani - 6/8/2005

Question
DRIVING DOWN A MOUNTAIN TOM FINDS THAT HE HAS DESCENDED 1800 FT IN ELEVATION  BY THE TIME HE IS 3.25 MI HORIZONTALLY AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN FIND THE SLOPE OF HIS DESCENT TO THE NEAREST 100TH

Answer
Hi Hollyann,

The slope is represented a the vertical change divided by the horizontal change.  We are given that the vertical change is 1800ft and the horizontal change is 3.25 miles.  We need to convert the miles into feet so we will have the same units before we divide.  There are 5,280 feet in a mile, so there are 5,280 x 3.25 = 17160 feet.  Now, we will do the division.

vertical/horizontal
1800/17160 = 0.105

So the downward slope is 0.105.  Also, you might want to express the slope in terms of feet/mile.  In that case the slope would be 1800ft/3.25mi = 553.85 ft/mile downward slope.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Bobby