the vertical distance from the bottom of a staircase to the top is 20 feet. the angle of elevation is 25. find the distance from the first step to the last (hypotenuse).

Question

anonymous · Answer

Well, you obviously and correctly see the solution as a hypotenuse, so do you know how to find the hypotenuse?

tashia · Answer

no

anonymous · Answer

Okay, here ya go:

The square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the sides.

The hypotenuse is ALWAYS the longest side on a right triangle. So the above statement is the same as:

hypotenuse = sqrt( base^2 + height^2)

In your example, the base is 25, and the height is 20.

anonymous · Answer

PS: This is usually seen as a^2 + b^2 = c^2

It's called the "pythagorean theorem".

tashia · Answer

oh oh yeah.. i remember tht

anonymous · Answer

Well, you have everything you need to know to figure out the hypotenuse!

tashia · Answer

thanks

anonymous · Answer

No problem! Glad I was able to help!

And thank you!  :-)