Question

A train track through a mountain is 1600 feet long and makes an angle of 1.6 with the horizontal. What is the change in elevation from one end of the tunnel to the other.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

law of sine :

a/sinA = b/sinB = c/sinC

with the sides and correlating angles being always opposite to each other.

we are dealing with a right-angled triangle here.

the train track is the Hypotenuse (the side opposite of the 90° angle) : 1600 ft.

the horizontal level "connection" from beginning to the end of the track is one leg, and the elevation difference at the end of the track is the second leg.

the 2 legs enclose a 90° angle, as the elevation goes straight up from the horizontal level.

so, we have

1600/sin(90) = elevation difference / sin(1.6)

sin(90) = 1

1600 = elevation difference / sin(1.6)

elevation difference = 1600 × sin(1.6) =

= 1600 × 0.027921639... =

= 44.67462196... ft

≈ 44.7 ft