1. **State the problem:** We need to find the horizontal distance of a wheelchair ramp with a vertical rise of 8 inches and an incline angle of 4.76°.
2. **Relevant formula:** In a right triangle, the tangent of the incline angle $\theta$ relates the opposite side (vertical rise) to the adjacent side (horizontal distance) as:
$$\tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}$$
3. **Apply the formula:** Here, $\theta = 4.76^\circ$, opposite side = 8 inches, and adjacent side = horizontal distance $x$ (unknown).
$$\tan(4.76^\circ) = \frac{8}{x}$$
4. **Solve for $x$:**
$$x = \frac{8}{\tan(4.76^\circ)}$$
5. **Calculate $\tan(4.76^\circ)$:**
$$\tan(4.76^\circ) \approx 0.0832$$
6. **Substitute and compute:**
$$x = \frac{8}{0.0832} \approx 96.2$$
7. **Label the ramp dimensions:**
- Incline angle: $4.76^\circ$
- Vertical rise: 8 inches
- Horizontal distance: approximately 96.2 inches
**Final answer:** The horizontal distance to minimize the ramp length is approximately **96.2 inches**.
Ramp Dimensions A0168E
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