Application The steps to the front entrance of a public building rise a total of 1 m. A portion of the steps will be replaced by a wheelchair ramp. By a city ordinance, the angle of inclination for a ramp cannot measure greater than 4.5°. What is the minimum distance from the entrance that the ramp must begin?

Answer 1

tan 4.5° = .0787

so, you want 1/d <= .0787, or
d >= 12.7

that is, the ramp must extend at least 12.7 m