Question

To function properly, a rainwater outflow pipe must drop exactly 1 inch for every 25 inches of horizontal distance. A design calls for a drainage pipe to drop 25 inches as it crosses a building 45 feet wide. Will the drainage pipe function properly?

Answer 1

The topic revolves around here is about scale and proportion.

In every 1 inch, it should have 25 inches of horizontal distance.
Let's try to check whether 25 inches is applicable to 45 feet.

45 feet = 540 inches.

Given the ratio of 1:25, then
1 : 25 = 25 : x
x = 625 inches

We are expecting the value 540 inches, but we get 625 inches. So, the pipe function won't work properly.