Question

A Boat is tied to the dock with a 25-foot rope. When the rope is pulled tight, the boat is 18 feet away from the base of the dock. The rope connects to the boat at the level of the water. What is the measure, to the nearest tenth of a degree, of x, the angle formed by the rope and the surface of the water?

Answer 1

43.9°

Explanation:

We solve the above question using the Trigonometric function of Cosine

cos x = Adjacent/Hypotenuse

From the question

Adjacent = Distance of the boat from the dock = 18 feet

Hypotenuse = Length of the rope = 25 feet

The angle formed by the rope and the surface of the water = x

Hence:

cos x = 18/25

x = arc cos (18/25)

x = 43.945519562°

Approximately θ = 43.9°

The angle formed by the rope and the surface of the water is given as 43.9°