an escalator at a shopping center is 200 ft 9 in. long, and rises at an angle of 15 degrees.What is the vertical rise of the escalator?round to the nearest inch

Question

campbell_st · Answer

draw a picture

but first change 200ft 9 in to feet

so its 200.75 ft

|dw:1359751984741:dw|

now you have a right triangle that has a hypotenuse and you need to find the opposite side... 

which trig ratio is needed..?

anonymous · Answer

im not sure is it the sin?

campbell_st · Answer

thats it... 

so you have 

$$\sin(15) = \frac{h}{200.75}$$

noe solve for h, the vertical height

anonymous · Answer

idk how to solve for h

campbell_st · Answer

multiply both sides of the equation by 200.75

so you have 

$$200.75 \times \sin(15) = h$$

noe just do the calculation.

anonymous · Answer

is it 51.960511?

campbell_st · Answer

yes... thats it.. so I'm not sure as to the accuracy of the measurement... 

it could be 52 ft  of 51.96 ft

anonymous · Answer

thank you veryyyy much :)