document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=141856>Question 141856</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You and your friend’s tugboats are 120 ft apart, and you’re pulling the same barge. The length of the cable from your tugboat to the barge is 212 ft, and the length of your friend’s cable is 230 ft. What is the angle formed by your two cables? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #103327 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=103327\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You and your friend’s tugboats are 120 ft apart, and you’re pulling the same barge. The length of the cable from your tugboat to the barge is 212 ft, and the length of your friend’s cable is 230 ft. What is the angle formed by your two cables?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Draw the triangle that is formed by the two ropes and the distance between<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the tugs.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The angle you want is opposite the 120 ft. distance between the tugs.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Use the Law of Cosines to find the angle:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "cos(A) = (b^2+c^2-a^2)/2bc<BR>\n" );
document.write( "cos(A) = (212^2 + 230^2-120^2)/(2*212*230) = 0.85566<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = cos^-1(0.85566) = 31.167 degrees<BR>\n" );
document.write( "================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );