Question

PLEASE HELP!! WILL GIVE Points Using the known angle, what side is known? What side is unknown? Use opposite, adjacent, or hypotenuse in your answer. (2 points) 4. What trigonometric ratio would you use to find the distance from the base of the tower to your keys? Identify your choice, and then calculate the distance. (4 points: 1 point for the ratio, 2 points for shown work, 1 point for the answer)
Trigonometric ratio (name): ___________________________
Calculation (Show your work):
5. While you're at the top of the tower, you see an ant walking along the edge of the building. If the ant were to walk straight down the side of the tower until it reached the ground, how far would the ant travel? Which trigonometric ratio would you use to find this distance? Use the ratio to find the measurement. (4 points: 1 point for the method, 2 points for shown work, 1 point for the answer)
6. Confirm that your answer to question 5 is correct using the Pythagorean Theorem instead of trig ratios. (3 points)

Answer 1

4.

known side: opposite (150m)

unknown sides: adjacent and hypotenuse

using Tan to find the distance from the tower's base to the key.

why do we use Tan to find the distance?

the tower creates an angle of 72 degrees with the ground, which will be called α, and it is 150m high from the ground which is opposite ∠α. (shown in picture). we can see that the distance from the base of the tower to the key is the adjacent of the ∠α.

Tan α =  opposite / adjacent

=> Tan 72° = 150 / x

=> x = 150 / Tan 72°

=> x = 48.73795443 m = ~48.7m

5.

4.

known side: opposite (150m)

unknown sides: adjacent and hypotenuse

using Sin to find the distance that the ant travelled.

why do we use Sinn to find the distance?

the tower creates an angle of 72 degrees with the ground, which will be called α, and it is 150m high from the ground which is opposite ∠α. (shown in picture). the ant travelled along the tower's body, which is the hypotenuse of the triangle, from the top until reaching the ground.

Sin α =  opposite / hypotenuse

=> Sin 72° = 150 / x

=> x = 150 / Sin 72°

=> x = 157.7193336 m = ~157.7m

6.

(using unrounded numbers to calculate because there is a small difference in results if using the rounded numbers)

c^2 = a^2 + b^2 (pythago)

157.7^2 = 150^2 + 48.7^2

24875.3882 = 24875.3882 (correct)