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Right Triangle Application Notes

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29 views2 pages

Right Triangle Application Notes

Uploaded by

Jomar.2627
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Right Triangle Trigonometry: Solving Word Problems

Trigonometry is used on a daily basis in the workplace. Since trigonometry means "triangle measure", any
profession that deals with measurement deals with trigonometry as well. Carpenters, construction workers and
engineers, for example, must possess a thorough understanding of trigonometry.

In word problems, the formulas remain the same:

Word problems introduce two new vocabulary terms:


Angle of Elevation The angle of elevation is always measured from the ground up.
Think of it like an elevator that only goes up. It is always INSIDE
the triangle.

In the diagram at the left, x marks the angle of elevation of the top of
the tree as seen from a point on the ground.

You can think of the angle of elevation in relation to the movement


of your eyes. You are looking straight ahead and you must raise
(elevate) your eyes to see the top of the tree.
Angle of Depression The angle of depression is always OUTSIDE the triangle. It is
never inside the triangle.

In the diagram at the left, x marks the angle of depression of a boat


at sea from the top of a lighthouse.

You can think of the angle of depression in relation to the movement


of your eyes. You are standing at the top of the lighthouse and you
are looking straight ahead. You must lower (depress) your eyes to
see the boat in the water.
As seen in the diagram above, the dark black horizontal line is parallel to side CA of triangle ABC. This forms
two alternate interior angles, which are equal in measure. This tells us that: the angle of elevation = the angle of
depression.
So what do we do with this angle of depression that is OUTSIDE of our triangle?
There are two possible ways to use our angle of
depression to obtain an angle INSIDE the triangle.

1. Find the angle adjacent (next door) to our angle.


This adjacent angle will always be the
complement of our angle. Our angle and the
angle next door will add to 90º. In the diagram
on the left, the adjacent angle is 55º.
2. Utilize the fact that the angle of depression =
the angle of elevation and simply place 35º in
angle A. (the easiest method)

Applications of Trigonometry
Solve each problem. Round to the nearest hundredth.
1.) A tower casts a shadow that is 63 feet long when the angle of 2.) Joy is standing on top of a cliff 305 feet above a lake. The
elevation of the sun is 65˚. How tall is the tower? measurement of the angle of depression to a boat on the lake is 42˚.
How far is the boat from the base of the cliff?
3.) Honey is standing on top of a cliff 305 feet above a lake. The 4.) A ladder that is 20 ft. long is leaning against the side of a
measurement of the angle of depression to a boat on the lake is 42˚. building. If the angle formed between the ladder and the ground is
How far is the boat from Matt? 75⁰, how far is the bottom of the ladder from the base of the
building?

5.) A ladder that is 30 ft long needs to reach 27 ft up a building. 6.) Rosa is standing 50 meters from a hot air balloon that is
What should the angle off of the vertical be? preparing to take off. The angle of elevation to the top of the balloon
is 28˚. Find the height of the balloon.

7.) Fred is in a boat that is floating 175 feet from the base of a 200- 8.) Juls wants to measure the height of a tree. She walks exactly 100
foot cliff. What is the angle of depression between the cliff and the feet from the base of the tree and looks up. The angle from the
boat? ground to the top of the tree is 33º. How tall is the tree?

9.) The flagpole in front of BSU -Bokod Administration Office 10.) Frenzel is flying a kite to which the angle of elevation is 70˚.
casts a shadow 40 feet long when the measurement of the angle of The string on the kite is 65 meters long. How far is the kite above
elevation to the sun is 31˚. How tall is the flagpole? the ground?

11.) A straight waterslide is 175 feet above ground and is 200 feet 12.) From a 200-foot observation tower on the beach, a man sights a
long. What is the angle of depression to the bottom of the slide? whale in difficulty. The angle of depression of the whale is 7˚. How
far is the whale from the shoreline?

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