A ladder leaning against a wall makes a 60° angle with the ground. The base of the ladder is 4m from the building. How high above the ground is the top of the ladder?

Question

zale101 · Answer

we are dealing with a 30-60-90 right triangle here

anonymous · Answer

yes. so can i just set it up and solve like i normally would for this kind of special triangle?

zale101 · Answer

based off of what is told, can u draw the figure?

anonymous · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

is that right?o:

anonymous · Answer

so how can i solve for the height with what i have here?

zale101 · Answer

Base = 4m
Angle with ground = 60 degrees
Height of top of ladder is found by
tan = Opposite/Adjacent

zale101 · Answer

tan (60) = Opposite/4

anonymous · Answer

what is tan? how is the height found using that?o:

zale101 · Answer

you don't know what's tangent ?

anonymous · Answer

no i don't. x:

zale101 · Answer

In a right triangle, the tangent of an angle is the length of the opposite side divided by the length of the adjacent side. http://www.mathopenref.com/trigtangent.html

zale101 · Answer

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