Question

A power lifter is leg-pressing 720 pounds on a leg press machine. The angle of the press is 60 degrees. What is the actual weight the lifter is pressing.

Answer 1

Since, the angle between the machine and angle of press is $60^{\circ}$ as shown in the attached image.

Therefore, the actual weight lifted by the power lifter is given by $w \times \cos \Theta$

where 'w' stands for the weight being lifted and $\Theta$ is the angle of press.

Now,

actual weight lifted by the power lifter = $720 \times \cos 60^{\circ}$

= $720 \times \frac{1}{2} = 360$ pounds.