Question

A wheelchair ramp is 4.2 meters long. it rises up 7.0 meters. what is the angle of elevation to the nearest tenth of a degree?

Answer 1

Answer: 36.9 degrees

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Work Shown:

I'm assuming your teacher meant to say the ramp is 7 meters long and the ramp rises up 4.2 meters. It doesn't make sense the way they phrased it initially since the ramp must be the longest part (it is the hypotenuse of the right triangle).

See diagram below.

The angle of elevation is the angle made between the ramp and the ground. It's the angle amount the ramp tilts upward.

sin(angle) = opposite/hypotenuse

sin(theta) = 4.2/7

sin(theta) = 0.6

theta = arcsin(0.6)

theta = 36.869897645844

theta = 36.9

Note: inverse sine or $\sin^{-1}$ is the same as arcsine. Make sure your calculator is in degree mode.