How Long is Santa's Slide Down the Roof?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the length of Santa's slide down a gingerbread house roof using the Pythagorean theorem. Given Santa's weight of 256 pounds, a center of mass 4 feet above the roof, and a roof pitch of 1-in-5, the dimensions provided include a house height of 12 feet and a width of 40 feet. The calculation performed was 4 ft² + 20 ft² = c², resulting in c = 20.40 ft, which is confirmed as the correct approach for determining the slide length.

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Homework Statement



Santa is in trouble. His reindeer just made a rough crosswind landing on the snow covered apex of this gingerbread house. Upon impact the hitch breaks free and the reindeer shoot skyward leaving Santa teetering on the very peak. As he slightly shifts the sleigh tilts forward. Remembering his physics, Santa quickly surveys his predicament. He weighs 256 pounds, his center of mass is located 4 feet vertically above the roof, his skis are waxed, the roof has a 1-in-5 pitch, the side of the house is 12 feet high, the width of the house is 40 feet from the left edge to the right roof edge and the snow on the ground is 5 feet deep.

Homework Equations



a^2+b^2= c^2

The Attempt at a Solution



4 ft^2 + 20 ft^2 = c^2
20.40 ft = c

i don't know if this is the right answer or right equation. If the dimensions are right either
 
Last edited:
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Looks good to me.
 

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