document.write( "Question 633441: A ski run must not exceed a slope of -3/5 due to safety concerns. What is the maximum elevation drop (in yards) if the run is to be 4000 yards long? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #398891 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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A ski run must not exceed a slope of -3/5 due to safety concerns. What is the maximum elevation drop (in yards) if the run is to be 4000 yards long?
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\n" ); document.write( "Draw the picture.
\n" ); document.write( "You have a right triangle with
\n" ); document.write( "hypotenuse = 4000 yds.
\n" ); document.write( "slope = -3/5 = -0.6 yds
\n" ); document.write( "This means the skier decends 3 yds for each horizontal advance of 5 yds.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let vertical change be 3x; then horizontal change is 5x.
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\n" ); document.write( "(3x)^2 + (5x)^2 = 4000^2
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\n" ); document.write( "34x^2 = 4000^2
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\n" ); document.write( "x = sqrt[4000^2/34]
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\n" ); document.write( "x = 4000/sqrt(34)
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\n" ); document.write( "Total vertical change = 3x = 12000/sqrt(34) = 2058 yds
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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