The grade of a highway up a hill is 76%. How much change in horizontal distance is there if the vertical height of the hill is 550 feet? Express the answer to the nearest foot.
A) 743 ft
B) 724 ft
C) 624 ft
D) 734 ft
E) 699 ft

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The grade of a highway is the slope given as a percentage, which represents the change in height for a 100% (or 100 units) change in horizontal distance. A 76% grade means that for every 100 feet of horizontal distance, the elevation changes by 76 feet. To find the horizontal distance (d) for a vertical height (h) of 550 feet, we use the ratio 76/100 = 550/d. Solving for d gives d = (550*100)/76, which approximately equals 723.68 feet. Rounding to the nearest foot gives 724 feet.

The Grade of a Highway Up a Hill Is 76