Question

A train is traveling up slight grade with an angle of inclination of only 2 degrees. After traveling 1 mile, what is the vertical change in feet?

Answer 1

Tan 2° = x / 1 mile,   where x is the vertical change
0.03492 = x / 1 mile
x = 1 mile · 0.03429 = 0.03492 miles
1 mile = 5,280 feet
0.03492 · 5,280 = 184.38 ft
Answer: The vertical change is 184.38 feet