Question

A construction worker needs to build a ramp for wheelchair access. If the height of the entrance is 3 feet and the ramp must create an angle of \( 30^{\circ} \) with the ground, what is the length of the ramp?

Ask by Watkins Fuentes. in South Africa
Jan 24,2025

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Answer

The ramp needs to be 6 feet long.

Solution

To determine the length of the ramp needed for wheelchair access, we can use trigonometry, specifically the sine function, which relates the angle of elevation to the ratio of the opposite side (height) to the hypotenuse (ramp length) in a right-angled triangle. **Given:** - Height of the entrance (\( \text{opposite} \)) = 3 feet - Angle with the ground (\( \theta \)) = \( 30^{\circ} \) **Using the sine function:** \[ \sin(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \] Plugging in the known values: \[ \sin(30^{\circ}) = \frac{3 \text{ feet}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \] We know that \( \sin(30^{\circ}) = 0.5 \). Therefore: \[ 0.5 = \frac{3}{\text{hypotenuse}} \] Solving for the hypotenuse: \[ \text{hypotenuse} = \frac{3}{0.5} = 6 \text{ feet} \] **Conclusion:** The ramp needs to be **6 feet** long to achieve a \( 30^{\circ} \) angle with the ground. **Answer:** The ramp must be 6 feet long.

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To find the length of the ramp, we can use trigonometry. Specifically, since we're dealing with a right triangle, we can use the sine function: \[ \sin(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} \] Here, the opposite side (height of the entrance) is 3 feet, and the angle \(\theta\) is \(30^{\circ}\). Plugging in the values: \[ \sin(30^{\circ}) = \frac{3 \text{ ft}}{L} \] Since \(\sin(30^{\circ}) = \frac{1}{2}\), we can set up the equation: \[ \frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{L} \] Now, solve for \(L\): \[ L = 3 \times 2 = 6 \text{ feet} \] Therefore, the length of the ramp is **6 feet**.

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