Question

Camp tent has a center pole 5 feet high. The sides of the tent make an angle of 55 degrees with the ground. How wide is the tent?
1Choice 1

5.7 feet

2Choice 2

14.2 feet


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Answer 1

Answer with explanation:

Height of pole = 5 feet

Angle made by tent on both sides of the ground = 55°

$\tan 55^{\circ}=\frac{\text{Perpendicular}}{\text{Base}}\\\\1.428=\frac{5}{B}\\\\B=\frac{5}{1.428}\\\\\text{Base}=3.50$

⇒Total Width of tent = 3.50 + 3.50 = 7 feet

Choice 1 : 7 feet

Answer 2

To answer this problem, you need to use SOHCAHTOA.  The pole, the tent, and the ground form a right triangle.  One leg is equal to 5.  The top angle is 55.  You need to find length of the other leg, so use tangent.  

tan55=O/5

O=0.4375

Double this to find the total width of the tent.  0.4375*2=0.875

0.875 (rounds to 1) feet

Hope this helps!!