Introduction

Can you believe what just happened? Grandma got run over by a reindeer...walkin' home from your house Christmas Eve! But don't worry...the doctors fully expect her to recover. However, if you ever want a visit from Grandma again, you need to build her a handicap ramp.

You have one plank of wood from which to build the ramp. Will you be able to meet the federal standards for handicap accessibility and build Grandma the ramp that she needs?

Here is what you need to do.

• Analyze the information that you have available, including the dimensions of the plank and the dimensions of the landing.
• Study the federal guidelines for building handicap accessible ramps.
• Crunch some numbers to determine if it is possible for you to build the ramp and meet the guidelines using the material you have available.
• Write a letter to Grandma explaining whether or not you can build the ramp and how you came to your conclusion.
• Include all relevant drawings and calculations you used to make your determination.

So here are the steps that you should follow:

1. Study the following information about the material that you have available:

• Your porch landing is 5 feet long, 1 yard wide, and 6 inches high.
• Your plank from which to build the ramp is 5 feet by 3 feet.

2. Draw a diagram depicting the above information.

3. Study the information pertaining to federal guidelines about building handicap ramps. You will need to consider the following:

• What are the guidelines pertaining to the dimensions of the landing?
• What are the specifications for the slope of the ramp?
• What are the guidelines for determining if handrails are required?

These websites may be helpful:

• Access Inc
• Adaptive Access

4. Answer the question: Does the landing meet the federal regulations?

You will need to convert some metric units. Use the following site if you need help:

• US Length Units

5. Answer the question: Does the ramp meet the slope requirements?

You will need to use the Pythagorean Theorem to help you solve this one. Check out these websites for help:

• Pythagorean Theorem
• Pythagoras's Theorem

Also, view these websites for help about slope:

• What is slope?
• Slope in the Coordinate Plane
• Slope at Math.com
• Real World Applications of Slope

6. Answer the question: If possible to build the ramp, will handrails be required?

Use the above slope websites to help you answer this one.

7. Write a letter to Grandma telling her whether you can build the ramp or not. In your letter, include the answers to the above questions. Explain how you came to each conclusion. Remember: Grandma's mind is not as good as it used to be, so be sure to explain all of the details clearly. Include all of the work and diagrams that you used to make your decision.

You will be evaluated based on the following:

At the conclusion of this activity, not only will you have helped Grandma out, but you will have used a variety of mathematical and problem solving skills. You will have used proportional reasoning, the Pythagorean Theorem, squares and square roots, and slope.

Grandma Got Run Over image from

www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/grandmareindeer.php

Grandma Got Run Over music from

http://www.the-north-pole.com/carols/grandma.html