47.7k views
1 vote
How would I set up and solve this problem?

How would I set up and solve this problem?-example-1
User Szhem
by
4.9k points

1 Answer

2 votes
Your figure is good.
You don't need trig.
You have a right triangle with two known sides, so just use the Pythagorean theorem to find the third side.
The sides measuring 325 m and 500 m form the right angle, so they are the legs.
The side you are looking for, x, is the hypotenuse.

leg1^2 + leg2^2 = hyp^2

325^2 + 500^2 = x^2

105,625 + 250,000 = x^2

x^2 = 355,625

x = sqrt(355,625)

x = 596.343

Answer: 596 ft

User Sgupta
by
5.0k points