Questions on Geometry: Triangles answered by real tutors!

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Question 148385: Taylor lets out 20 meters of kite string then wonders how high the kite has risen. Taylor is able to calculate the answer after using a protractor to measure the 63-degree angle of elevation that the string makes with the ground. How high is the kite, to the nearest meter? What unrealistic assumptions did you make in answering this question?

thanks -cj: Taylor lets out 20 meters of kite string then wonders how high the kite has risen. Taylor is able to calculate the answer after using a protractor to measure the 63-degree angle of elevation that the string makes with the ground. How high is the kite, to the nearest meter? What unrealistic assumptions did you make in answering this question?

thanks -cj
Answer by Earlsdon(3719) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You can use the sine function for this problem.
The sine of the angle of elevation (63 degs) is found by dividing the side opposite the angle (that's the height (h) of the kite) by the hypotenuse (that's the length (20m) of the kite string.
Sin(63) = h/20 Solve for h.
h = 20*sin(63)
h = 17.8meters
h = 18meters, rounded to nearest meter.
The unrealistic assumption here is that the kite string makes a straight line from the ground to the kite, but in reality, the string would assume the shape of a catenary (kind of like a parabola) curve.