document.write( "Question 892765: a security light is being installed outside a loading dock. the light must be placed at a 52 degree angle so that it illluminates a parking lot. if the distance from the end of the parking lot to the loading dock is 100 feet, what is the height of the security light.?\r
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document.write( "am I using tangent to solve? not sure what to do. \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #540774 by LinnW(1048)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! If the 52 degrees is between the wall and direction the light is pointing, \n" ); document.write( "then the 100 feet is opposite from the 52 degree angle, and \n" ); document.write( "the height of the light is the adjacent side of the triangle. \n" ); document.write( "so tan(52) = opposite/adjacent = 100/adjacent \n" ); document.write( "let x = the length of the adjacent side \n" ); document.write( " tan(52) = 100/x \n" ); document.write( "x*tan(52) = 100 \n" ); document.write( "divide each side by tan(52) \n" ); document.write( "x = 100/tan(52) \n" ); document.write( "x = 78.128 feet \n" ); document.write( "If the 52 degrees is from horizontal, the angle of interest is 90-52 = 38 degrees \n" ); document.write( "we would want to solve tan(38) = 100/x \n" ); document.write( "and x = 100/tan(38) = 128 feet \n" ); document.write( "In either case it seems unlikely we would expect to place a light that high. \n" ); document.write( " |