Every 12 inches of horizontal movement is 10 inches of vertical elevation.

I would explain a 12/12 is a roof at 45 degree slope.

A ten pitch is less than 45 degrees meaning the speed reached as one tumbles from the roof may be less.

I wouldn't and I wont. Google now becomes the master and me the student

Very steep.  Don't attempt to walk on it without good medical and life insurance.  

I'd direct them to the big brain in the sky... known as Google.  Find a good video on you tube from a roofer.  That's way outside my wheelhouse.

Very steep.  A ten pitch is ten inches of rise over 12 inches run. 

Barbara Todaro A 10 inch rise for every 12 inches of length.

Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 got this one, but where is Mike Rock on this?

I would likely need a tuning fork - yes? 

Are baseballs involved?

Very sloped roof, lasts long long time. 

If look confused have them call  Barbara Todaro she will explain better than any realtor or builder.

I would tell them it's the steepness and slope of the roof Barbara Todaro.  If they could see pictures to compare the pitches, they would see a '10' is steep, compared to an '8'.  That is strictly in laymen's terms. 

Barbara - Have never had anyone ask how steep a roof was, or the pitch of a roof.

I would do some research and ask professionals before opening my mouth. 

Looks like I am late to the party!

The angle of the roof - here's the number for my go to roofer guy

Get your good grippy tennis shoes out for this one, and a repelling rope.

I dont think I have ever had to explain this for a roof, but have had to do so for measuring slope in the woods since some of our high tech measuring equip requires a slope input.

I've always heard it referred to as "something"/12  a 10/12 would be a ten foot rise over a 12 foot span.  In my market 8/12 is pretty standard and 12/12 is most steep on most homes (modified A-frames) and we have a lot of those.  

Barbara Todaro - that is a steep roof - the ratio is less than 1, so the incline is less than 45 degree I think...

The roof rises 10" for every foot. That is a steep roof by the way.

Susan Emo gets my vote!

   I would have a roofer explain it to them.

Angle of it. Some are better than others - construction & architecture wise.

Barbara,

Laughing at Susan Emo 's post.  A

I was thinking along the same lines as Susan Emo.