Rate magnitude of vertical component

[hulahoop09]

A skier is moving at 85 km/hr straight down a tall mountain having a slope of 60 degrees. At what rate is the magnitude of the vertical component of his trip decreasing?

I just don't understand exactly how to find it. The wording doesn't make sense to me and I don't know where to start.

 

[tiny-tim]

Welcome to PF!

Hi hulahoop09! Welcome to PF!

A skier is moving at 85 km/hr straight down a tall mountain having a slope of 60 degrees. At what rate is the magnitude of the vertical component of his trip decreasing?
…
The wording doesn't make sense to me …

Yes, it's not the most straightforward way of describing it, is it?

The "vertical component of his trip" is simply his height (measured vertically, relative to something like sea-level).

"Magnitude" just means "size" … and could just as well have been left out completely!

So the question is really, at what rate is his height decreasing?