Question 1132995: Cant figure this one out,
Tom is being treated with laser therapy to remove a tumor that is located behind a vital organ. The tumor is 5.7cm below the skin. To avoid the organ, the entry point of the laser must be 12.4 cm above the tumor along the skin. What is the angle the doctor must use to hit the tumor directly?
Answer by Theo(13342)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! trying to decipher what the problem is asking, i cet the following.
draw a right trianle and call it ABC.
C is the location of the tumor.
A is the location of the entry point of the laser on the skin.
B is the location 5.7 centimeters directly above the tumor on the skin.
the solution really depends on what they mean by "the entry point of the laser must be 12.4 cm above the tumor along the skin"
assuming the skin is horizontal and assuming the 5.7 centimeters above the tumor on the skin is vertical, then:
the 12.4 centimeters could be the horizontal distance from the entry point of the laser on the skin to the location on the skin directly above the tumor, or it could be the distance from the tumor itself.
in the first case, the triangle is ABC and the length of AB is 12.4 cm while the length of BC is 5.7 centimeters.
in the second case, the triangle is still ABC, but the length of AC is 12.4 centimeters while the length of BC is still 5.7 centimeters.
angle A is the angle of entry from the entry point of the laser on the skin in both cases.
in the first case, the angle becomes arctan(5.7/12.4) = 24.68717373 degrees.
in the second case, the angle becomes arcsin(5.7/12.4) = 27.36629392 degrees.
my interpretation would be case 1 (first case).
if that is correct, then your answer should be 24.687617373 degrees.
here's my diagram of case 1 (first case) and case 2 (second case).
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