Question

A factory has a conveyor​ belt, Conveyor​ 1, which brings the supplies into the factory. The conveyor belt rises 8 ft for every 4 ft it runs. The factory has another conveyor​ belt, Conveyor​ 2, which sends the products out of the factory. This conveyor belt descends 21 ft for every 7 ft it runs. Find the slope of each conveyor belt. Which conveyor belt is​ steeper?

Answer 1

The slope of Conveyor 1 is $\tan \alpha=\frac {8} {4}=2$,

$\alpha = \arctan(2) = 63.42\degree$ .

2.The slope of Conveyor 2 is $\tan\beta =\frac {-21} {7} =- 3$,

$\beta = \arctan(-3) \approx -71.56\degree$.

It means the second conveyor belt is steeper.