1. Section 1

1.6. Explore

Mathematics 20-3 Module 3

Section 1: Slope—Physical Objects

 

Explore

 

In Discover, you saw a variety of photos with one thing in common: slope. The images show a wheelchair ramp, a bike jump, and stairs up the outside of a temple. What problems could result if the slope of the wheelchair ramp were three times steeper than what is shown in the photo? At what point does a slope become too steep?

 

Try this experiment. Place a pencil about 1 in from the end of a 12-in ruler, as shown in the photo below. How high can you lift that end of the ruler before the pencil slides or rolls down?

 

This is a picture of a pencil on a ruler with one end lifted.

 

How can you describe the steepness right before the pencil begins to move?