Firefighter Type 1 Wildland Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Preparation Guide

The calculation of slope can be approached in a few ways, such as angles and percentage, which makes it possible for multiple interpretations of the same data. In this case, both the angle of 45 degrees and a slope of 100% can be derived from the given horizontal and vertical distances.

When both the horizontal distance (640 ft) and the vertical distance (640 ft) are equal, it indicates that the rise and run are the same. This means that the tangent of the angle, which represents the slope, is 1 (since tangent = rise/run). The inverse tangent of 1 is 45 degrees. Therefore, the slope indeed measures 45 degrees.

On the percentage side, 100% slope is calculated by taking the vertical rise divided by the horizontal run (640 ft / 640 ft = 1) and then converting this to a percentage (1 × 100 = 100%). This indicates that for every 100 units of horizontal distance, there is a vertical rise of 100 units, which defines a 100% slope.

Additionally, calling the slope "steep" is a subjective description but remains valid since both 45 degrees and 100% are significant indications of a slope that is notably steep in many