Question

A slide 5.2 meters long makes an angle of 32 degrees with the ground. How high is the top of the slide above the ground? Round to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

2.8 m

Explanation:

This is classic right triangle trig. The slide represents the hypotenuse of the triangle, and we have the base angle (the reference angle) as 32 degrees. We are looking for the side length that is opposite the reference angle. That is the sin ratio, where sin(angle) = side opposite/hypotenuse:

`sin(32)=(x)/(5.2)` and

5.2 sin(32) = x

Multiplying that out on your calculator in degree mode gives you that

x = 2.8 meters high