A railway has a slope of .73. A vertical change of one unit corresponds to a horizontal change of what length?

Question

im really confused on this question. 

Answer 1

Slope is often called "rise over run."  That is, the increase in the y-value divided by the increase in the x-value.

 

Let x=increase in horizontal length

 

Slope = 0.73 = (increase in vertical) / (increase in horizontal)

            0.73 = 1 / x

 

            0.73x = 1                    [multiply both sides by x]

             x = 1 / 0.73                  [divide both sides by 0.73]

             x = 1.37 units     (rounded)

Answer 2

Remember that slope is a ratio of horizontal to vertical change   (rise / run).  Therefore the railway slope of 0.73 means it goes up 0.73 units every time it goes forward one.  The question is asking how much it goes forward (horizontal change) if it goes up 1 full unit (vertical change) instead of 0.73 units.

 

Essentially you need to solve this proportion   0.73 / 1 = 1/ x  which means 0.73 x = 1  and x = 1/0.73  which is approximately 1.37.