An incline ramp on a moving van measures 196 inches. The height of the moving van to the ground is 32 inches. What is the longest distance that the ramp can be extended (the distance from back of the truck to the edge of the ramp when the ramp is at rest on the ground)? Round your answer to the nearest whole number. the distance from the back of the truck to the edge of the ramp is about?

Answer 1

To find the longest distance that the ramp can be extended, we can use the Pythagorean theorem.

The height of the moving van to the ground is the vertical leg of the right triangle, measuring 32 inches. The length of the ramp is the hypotenuse, measuring 196 inches. Let's call the distance from the back of the truck to the edge of the ramp "x".

Using the Pythagorean theorem, we have:

x^2 + 32^2 = 196^2

Simplifying the equation:

x^2 + 1024 = 38416

Subtracting 1024 from both sides:

x^2 = 37442

Taking the square root of both sides:

x ≈ 193.42

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the distance from the back of the truck to the edge of the ramp is about 193 inches.