Question

You need to stabilize a flagpole by string in a guy-wire from the top of a flagpole to the ground. The pole is 15 feet tall and angle of elevation is 70 degrees. Using trig ratios calculate how much wire is needed

Answer 1

sinα=h/w

w=h/sinα, we are told that h=15 ft and α=70° so

w=15/sin70° ft

w≈15.96 ft (to nearest hundredth of a foot)

Answer 2

The length of the wire needed is:

15.9625 feet

Explanation:

We will model this problem with the help of a right angled triangle such that the side opposite to the angle 70 degree is: 15 feet.

Now, we are asked to find the amount of wire used i.e. we are asked to find the hypotenuse of the right angled triangle.

We will use the sine trignometric ratio as follows:

`\sin 70=(15)/(x)\\\\i.e.\\\\x=(15)/(\sin 70)\\\\i.e.\\\\x=(15)/(0.9397)\\\\i.e.\\\\x=15.9625\ feet`