If a treadmill is 6 ft long and is set at 8% grade. How high (in feet ) is the front end of the treadmill

Question

I need the steps please.

Answer 1

you need to make a diagram--a right triangle showing an 8% grade will have a vertical height (leg) 8 units long and horizontal leg 100 units long.  a similar triangle exhibiting the same ratio will have the height h and horizontal leg 6 ft.

 

this gives the proportion h/6 = 8/100 where the measurement of h is some number of ft.

 

these are basic ideas from Geometry, which ought not to be forgotten by a Precalculus student.

 

Answer 2

Hi Michael, you can use the information given and the tangent law to find the height of the treadmill.

 

Tangent law, tan Θ = opposite / adjacent.

 

Given: 

 

Θ = 8 degrees

 

adjacent = 6 feet

 

opposite = x

 

tan 8 = x / 6

 

x = 6 * tan 8

 

x = 1.12 feet rounded.

 

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