There are many ropes keeping a hot air balloon from floating away before a balloon race. One of these ropes is fixed to the ground at a 45° angle. Another is fixed to the ground at a 30° angle. If the hot air balloon is 18 feet off the ground, what is the distance between the ground directly underneath the balloon and the second rope rounded to the nearest hundredth of a foot?

Question

jagatuba · Answer

$$\tan A =ol \div al$$

anonymous · Answer

ol & al?

jagatuba · Answer

ol= opposite leg
al=adjacent leg

jagatuba · Answer

The distance between the balloon and the ground is the opposite leg of the right triangle, the length of the rope is the hypotenuse, and the distance between the point on the ground directly below the balloon to the point where the rope is anchored to the ground is the adjacent leg. Find the tan of the angle and solve.

jagatuba · Answer

does that make sense?

jagatuba · Answer

I can draw you a diagram if it would be more helpful.