Question 42109
Tom travels down an inclened (as he is descending a mountain).
So let Tom travel from C to A along CA.
C is the point where he begun his journey and A is the point where he finds that he has traveled 3.25 miles horizontally (AB = 3.25 mi) and has descended 1800 ft vertically (CB = 1800 ft).


See this triangle ABC.
{{{drawing(400,100,-5,195,-5,25,
locate(0,0,A),
locate(171.6,0,B),
locate(171.6,18,C),
line(0,0,171.6,0),
line(0,0,171.6,18),
line(171.6,0,171.6,18)
)}}}


1 mile = 5280 ft.
So 3.25 miles = 3.25 x 5280 = 17160 ft.


Here, AB = 3.25 miles = 17160 ft and BC = 1800 ft.
Therefore slope = {{{BC/AB}}} = {{{1800/17160}}} = {{{15/143}}} = 0.10 (approximate to nearest hundredth).