Question

Help please explain how I'm supposed to do this


A guy wire is stretched from the top of a tower to a point 10 yards from the base of the tower. The wire makes an angle of 65° with the ground. Draw a diagram and find the length of the guy wire.

4.2 yd.
11.0 yd.
23.7 yd.

Answer 1

hi

Answer 2

hi

Answer 3

use trig function to find the hypotenuse length (wire length)

Answer 4

ok

Answer 5

can you explain how you go that. I looked at and it says 65º is 2.1445. so it would be 2.1445 * 10 which gave me 21.44. That's what I got, not sure if it's right.

Answer 6

@Directrix

Answer 7

I calculate:
cosine 65 = 10/hyp
.4226 = 10/hyp
hyp = 10/.4226
hyp = 23.6630383341

Answer 8

so it would have to be cosine and not tangent, would the same thing possibly apply to the others?

Answer 9

@SageWilson

>I looked at and it says 65º is 2.1445.

I think you looked under the tangent column on the chart. Look again at the cosine value of that angle.

Answer 10

okay

Answer 11

the final result with cosine would be 4.22

Answer 12

SageWilson, when you say does this apply to the others, what do you mean?
And hello Directrix!!

Answer 13

there are other questions like this. I was just wondering if I should use cosine for all the others or should I try Sine Cosine and Tangent

Answer 14

You are familiar with the trigonometric definitions right?

Answer 15

soh cah toa

Answer 16

sine = oposite / hyp

Answer 17

yes

Answer 18

cosine = adj/hyp

Answer 19

depends on what info is given in the prob

Answer 20

or if you prefer here is a page with the 3 trig functions right at the top:
http://www.1728.org/trigtutr.htm

Answer 21

It's fine I understand them

Answer 22

So I guess you are all set then?

Answer 23

Yeah I think so. If I have anymore questions I'll just ask

Answer 24

Okay Sage, I'm sure there will be a few folks to help you.

Answer 25

okay, I'm going to close this question

Answer 26

Okay, Sage