Question

Helpful steps, please, A 37 foot ladder is leaning against the side of a building. if the ladder makes an angle of 24 degrees 31 inches with the side of the building. how far is the bottom of the ladder from the base of the building? ( I got 15.35 ft would this be correct?)

Answer 1

i have no idea what "24 degrees 31 inches" means

Answer 2

Me either.. That's why I was confused.

Answer 3

my only guess would be 24 degrees 31 minutes, but who knows

Answer 4

my mistake yes thats what I meant to state

Answer 5

What did you do to solve this problem...Division, Multiplication, Adding, Subtracting?

Answer 6

you gotta convert this to a decimal before you can calculate it

Answer 7

then
\[\cos(\theta)=\frac{x}{37}\] solve for \(x\) via
\[x=37\cos(\theta)\]

Answer 8

I'm guessing they gave you this angle: \(\Large 24^{\circ} 31'\)

If so, then yes, that means "24 degrees, 31 minutes"

\[\Large \theta = 24 \text{ degrees}, 31 \text{ minutes}\]
\[\Large \theta = 24 \text{ degrees}, \frac{31}{60} \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta = 24 \text{ degrees}+\frac{31}{60} \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta = (24 +\frac{31}{60}) \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta = (\frac{1440}{60}+\frac{31}{60}) \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta = \frac{1440+31}{60} \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta = \frac{1471}{60} \text{ degrees}\]
\[\Large \theta \approx 24.5167 \text{ degrees}\]

Answer 9

I understand that converting it to a decimal is 24.51667 would my equation be 37/cos(24.51667) ?

Answer 10

do you see how satellite solved for x?

Answer 11

Just that x= 37cos(theta) is that meaning that its 37cos(24.51667)?

Answer 12

correct, you use a calculator at this point

Answer 13

this is the issue. the answers are a)16.65 ft b)21.05ft c)15.35ft d)5.98ft and I am getting 33.66ft

Answer 14

are you sure we use cos instead of using sin?

Answer 15

let me re-read

Answer 16

"A 37 foot ladder is leaning against the side of a building. if the ladder makes an angle of 24 degrees 31 inches with the side of the building. how far is the bottom of the ladder from the base of the building?"

let x = distance from bottom of ladder to wall

so you should have something like this

Answer 17

yeah you use sine instead of cosine

Answer 18

so then 15.35ft?

Answer 19

approximately, yes

Answer 20

thanks for your help

Answer 21

np