SOLUTION: I need help with a word problem, please! I just can't seem to get the hang of how to do this problem, it seems to be too wordy. A pole 80 feet tall is situated at the bottom of

Question 378725: I need help with a word problem, please! I just can't seem to get the hang of how to do this problem, it seems to be too wordy.
A pole 80 feet tall is situated at the bottom of a hill that slopes up at an angle of 12.0 degrees. A guy wire from the top of the pole to the hillside forms an angle of 35 degrees with the top of the pole. Find the distance from the base of the pole to the guy wire's point of attachment.
Thank you so much!
Answer by scott8148(6628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
picture the bottom of the pole at the origin (0,0)
with the pole going up the y-axis , and the top at (0,80)

the equation of the hillside is ___ y = [sin(12�)]x

the equation of the guy wire is ___ y = [sin(-55�)]x + 80

solve for x at the intersection
substitute to find y at the intersection
use the distance formula (from the origin) to find the solution
RELATED QUESTIONS
I am having a problem with a word problem for my math class. The problem is: If a... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

I have a word problem that I'm trying to help my child with. I have the answer, but... (answered by mananth)

i really need help with this problem i cant seem to get it right i worked on this problem (answered by stanbon)

I think thisa is the right section, anyways, the problem is... lets say, Eg.... (answered by rapaljer)

I have never had such a problem with maths before. Everyone says it's easy, and it might... (answered by checkley77)

I have this problem from school and i need to get this done. I have tried toyed around... (answered by Edwin McCravy)

okay i've tried but i just cant seem to get the hang of this... how do i solve this... (answered by nerdybill)

What is a subspace ? How do you prove that it is a subspace ? I know that it is a... (answered by robertb)

My math teacher gave me a problem with the following instructions: "Write the equation... (answered by KMST)