Question

Max is installing a 12-ft swimming pool slide at a 50° angle of elevation. The bottom of the slide will be 1 foot off the ground and the top of the slide will be fixed to a platform. Find the height of the platform. (round to nearest tenth) A) 9.2 ft B) 10.0 ft C) 10.1 ft D) 10.2 ft

Answer 1

D) 10.2 ft

Explanation:

The mnemonic SOH CAH TOA reminds you that

... Sin = Opposite/Hypotenuse

You want to find the length of the side Opposite the 50° angle, given the Hypotenuse is 12 ft. Then the relation is ...

... sin(50°) = height/(12 ft)

Multiplying by 12 ft gives

... height = (12 ft)·sin(50°) ≈ 9.2 ft

The height of the platform is 1 ft up from this value:

... 9.2 ft + 1 ft = 10.2 ft