Quandaries and Queries
 

 

I have one that I hope you can answer for I can find no answer any place else. When I am driving down the road and see a sign that says for example steep grade ahead 6% grade etc etc what does this mean? Is it angle, distance what?

Thanks Michael

 

 

Hi Michael,

"6% grade" is the slope of the road. Per cent means per one-hundred so 6% grade is 6 per one-hundred. If the road is climbing then this means for every 100 units you travel horizontally you increase your altitude by 6 units. I didn't specify the units since the measurement does not depend on the units, as long as you measure both distances using the same units, feet, yards or meters or any other unit.

Cheers,
Penny
 
 

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