SOLUTION: I have a question. A water slide is a straight ramp 25 m long that starts from the top of a tower 21 m high. Find the angle the slide forms with the tower (to the nearest degre

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: I have a question. A water slide is a straight ramp 25 m long that starts from the top of a tower 21 m high. Find the angle the slide forms with the tower (to the nearest degre      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 187984: I have a question.
A water slide is a straight ramp 25 m long that starts from the top of a tower 21 m high. Find the angle the slide forms with the tower (to the nearest degree).
So, I'm not sure if I am even on the right track, but I used the Pythagorean Theorem to get the last side. I got 2 sqare root of 46. But I don't even know if that is right or if I need to use that. So, I still don't know how to find the angle of the slide with the tower.
Thanks a lot for answering
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


I think it's better if we put this in illustration,so we can grasp the data together.

Two sides are already given in the Right Triangle, that's all you need to get the Angle of inclination of the slide.
By Trigonometric function ofr a Right Triangle, Cosine deals with adjacent and hypotenuse right?
It follows----> cos%28sigma%29=adj%2Fhyp=21%2F25=0.84
sigma=cos%5E%28-1%29%280.84%29
sigma=32.85%5Eo ----> 33 deg Answer

Since you computed the opposite side=2%2Asqrt%2846%29, we can use this but using different function. We use Sine when dealing with opp. and hyp sides.
sin%28sigma%29=opp%2Fhyp=2%2Asqrt%2846%29%2F25=13.56466%2F25=0.5425864
sigma=sin%5E%28-1%29%280.5425864%29=32.85%5Eo or 33 deg
* Must be the same


Thank you,
Jojo