Trig Word Problems

Front

What is the angle of elevation?

Back

The angle of elevation is the angle formed by the horizontal line and the line of sight to an object above the horizontal line.

Front

How do you find the length of a shadow using the angle of elevation?

Back

Use the tangent function: length of shadow = height of object / tan(angle of elevation).

Front

What is the Pythagorean theorem?

Back

In a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides (a² + b² = c²).

Front

If a tree is 10 ft tall and casts a shadow of 15 ft, what is the angle of elevation of the sun?

Back

34 degrees.

Front

How do you calculate the distance from the base of a ladder to the wall?

Back

Use the cosine function: distance = length of ladder * cos(angle with the ground).

Front

What is the sine function in relation to a right triangle?

Back

In a right triangle, the sine of an angle is the ratio of the length of the opposite side to the length of the hypotenuse (sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse).

Front

How do you find the height of an object using the angle of elevation and distance?

Back

Use the formula: height = distance * tan(angle of elevation).

Front

If a ladder is 12 ft long and leans against a wall at a 39-degree angle, how far is the bottom from the wall?

Back

9.3 ft.

Front

What is the cosine function in relation to a right triangle?

Back

In a right triangle, the cosine of an angle is the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse (cos(θ) = adjacent/hypotenuse).

Front

How do you determine the diagonal distance traveled by an object at an angle?

Back

Use the formula: diagonal distance = height / sin(angle of elevation).