Question

A wheelchair access ramp has an angle of elevation of 20°. If the ramp reaches to the top of a 33 inch high porch, how long is the ramp?

Answer 1

Sinα=height/length

length=height/sinα, we are given that α=20° and h=33 in

length=33/sin20° in

length≈96.49 in (to nearest hundredth of an inch)

Answer 2

This is a sin operation, Sin is the relationship between the opposite (height) and the hypotenuse (length of ramp). Plugging in: Sin(20deg) = 33/x

Sin(20) = 33/x

x*Sin(20) = 33

x = 33/Sin(20)

x = 96.49in long.

*This answer is the length of the SLOPE of the ramp.