SOLUTION: A 24 foot ladder is leaning against a building. Let x be the distance between the bottom of the ladder and the building and let theta be the angle between the ladder and the ground

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: A 24 foot ladder is leaning against a building. Let x be the distance between the bottom of the ladder and the building and let theta be the angle between the ladder and the ground      Log On


   

Question 588295: A 24 foot ladder is leaning against a building. Let x be the distance between the bottom of the ladder and the building and let theta be the angle between the ladder and the ground.

The question is to express theta as a function of x. The furthest I can get on this is to set up this: cos(theta)=(x/24) I do not know what to do next? Thank you!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Simply take the arccosine of both sides to get

arccos%28cos%28theta%29%29+=+arccos%28x%2F24%29

theta+=+arccos%28x%2F24%29


So the answer is theta+=+arccos%28x%2F24%29