Have you ever wondered what the Pythagorean Theorem or Slope Intercept Form have to do with you? The answer is quite a bit if you have ever taken the escalator at a mall.

My math class took a trip to Plaza Frontanac to get the following data for the escalator. See the picture below as reference point.

We have for a , 363 inches - a may also be refered to as run.

We have for b, 208 inches - b may be refered to as rise.

c is unknown, lets solve for c, the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

Now lets do y= mx+b , The Slope Intercept Form.

For (x1,y1) on the graph we have (0,0).

For (x2,y2) on the graph we have (363,208).

m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1) so m = (208 - 0)/(363 - 0)

finally m = 208/363 = .573 is our slope

and b=o.

If we take our run for x, x=363, and take our rise for y, y=208,

then for y = m x + b we have 208 = .573(363) + 0.

The right side of this calculation is equal to 207.99.

As we can see with a slope of .573 from point 0, we will reach the top of the escalator about 208 inches above the ground from where we hop on. We will have to ride the escalator for a total of 418.37 inches.

For more information and ideas about this project you may link to a page written by one of the following math artists: Danielle, Darlene, Kellie, Jill's Second and Fourth Web Page, Nanyal, Kevin, Crystal, Rachel, Christina, Jennifer, Candice, Vincent, Esther and Melinda. Most of us are in this picture but not in order of names.