Access ramp : how steep can a ramp be?

URL: http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/c33/challenge.htm

1007936

This activity opens with an animated picture of an access ramp over a three-step staircase, with steps 7 inches high and 10 inches wide. Students are asked to determine how far away the ramp should start in order to go up the steps. The activity, part of the Figure This! collection of 80 math challenges emphasizing math in the real world, explains how slope, or the measurement of steepness, is important to civil engineers, landscapers, and surveyors. The hint states that ramps usually go up 1 vertical inch for every 12 horizontal inches. Students are encouraged to draw the set of steps and calculate the total height. With this height and the hint, they can find the distance for the ramp. Related questions ask students to use slope to estimate the grade of a ski hill and the path of a glider. Answers to all questions and links to resources are included. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

Summary

Subject keyword(s)	Arithmetic, Education, Number and operations, Problem solving, Process skills, Ratio and proportion
Grade level	Middle School, Informal Education
Intended audience	Learner
Resource type	Audio/Visual, Instructional Material
Resource format	image, image/gif, text, text/html
Rights	Content copyright 1999-2002 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Found in collection(s)

Click on the logo to get more information about the collection.

Title	Middle School Portal: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2)
Link	http://msteacher2.org/
Description	The Middle School Portal 2: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2) supports middle grades educators with high-quality, standards-based resources and promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its users. Educators use MSP2 to increase content knowledge in science, mathematics, and appropriate pedagogy for youth ages 10 to 15. MSP2 employs social networking and digital tools to foster dynamic experiences that promote creation, modification, and sharing of resources, facilitate professional development, and support the integration of technology into practice. MSP2 is a project of the Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, National Middle School Association, and Education Development Center, Inc., and is funded by the National Science Foundation. The partners integrate resources, tools, and services across projects, and support multiple methods of resource discovery to meet the needs of this audience.
	Full description and distribution of resources

Content contained within the resource

Home � Getting Started � Answer � TryThese � ThinkAbout This � Did You Know? � Resources Try Another Challenge � Challenge Index � Math Index · Printing the Challenges � En Español Family Corner � Teacher Corner � About Figure This! · Purchase the CD ©2004 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Web site and CD-ROM design/production © 1999-2004 KnowNetConstruction, Inc.