Wildland Firefighting Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Firefighter Certification!

The formula for determining slope is calculated by dividing the change in elevation (the vertical rise) by the horizontal distance (the run) over which that change occurs. This relationship conveys how steep a slope is by producing a ratio or a fraction that can be interpreted as a percentage or a decimal.

This method is commonly used in various disciplines, including geometry, civil engineering, and land surveying, to accurately assess terrain and topography. Understanding slope through this formula is essential, particularly in firefighting, where knowing the steepness of terrain can affect strategies for safety, movement, and positioning.

The other approaches do not accurately represent the standard calculation of slope. Multiplying or adding these values would not yield the slope ratio. Subtracting horizontal distance from the change in elevation also deviates from the fundamental definition of slope, which inherently requires a division to reflect the relationship between the vertical and horizontal measures.