A 72.5 foot rope from the top of a circus tent pole is anchored to the ground 42.3 feet from the bottom of the pole. What angle does the rope make with the pole? (Assume the pole is perpendicular from the ground)

Question

A 72.5  foot rope from the top of a circus tent pole is anchored to the ground 42.3 feet from the bottom of the pole. What angle does the rope make with the pole? (Assume the pole is perpendicular from the ground)

aum · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

the sign of an angle equals the length of the opposite side over the hypotenuse of the triangle.

i always remember which trig function to use by memorizing SOH-CAH-TOA
s = sine  c = cosine   t = tangent
o = opposite   a = adjacent   h = hypotenuse

so the fisrt letter is the trig function that you use with the angle and it equals the second letter over the third as a fraction. hope this helps :)

anonymous · Answer

thanks a bunch!

aum · Answer

We are interested in finding the angle marked 't'.  
We know the length of the side opposite to 't' and it is 42.3 ft.
We also know the hypotenuse which is 72.5 ft.
What trig function connects the opposite side and the hypotenuse to the angle?

anonymous · Answer

I believe i use inverse sin?

aum · Answer

correct.  inverse sin of (42.3 / 72.5) = ? degrees

anonymous · Answer

yes that is what i had in mind. thx

aum · Answer

yw.

anonymous · Answer

i have this tough question from common core, spiral of theodorus

aum · Answer

You can close this one and post any other question separately.

anonymous · Answer

kk thanks