Question

The height H in feet above the ground of the seat of a playground swing can be modeled by H(θ) = -4cosθ + 6, where θ is the angle the swing makes with a vertical extended to the ground. Graph the height of the swing's seat for 0º ≤ θ ≤ 90º. Then answer this question: How high is the swing when θ = 60º?

Answer 1

do we draw a acute triangle for this problem?

Answer 2

do you have a graphing calculator?

Answer 3

Simply substitute 60 degrees into the equation

H(60) = -4cos(60) +6
= -4*0.5 + 6
=-2+6
= 4 units up.

Answer 4

do what he said but as for the graphing portion just plug it into a graphing calculator and make the x-min: 0 and x-max: pi/2 since 90 degrees is pi/2