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Find the horizontal distance x the escalator covers to the nearest tenth of a foot.

Find the horizontal distance x the escalator covers to the nearest tenth of a foot-example-1
User Phydeaux
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1 Answer

3 votes

Given:

Length of escalator = 26 ft

Angle of depression = 41 degrees

To find:

The horizontal distance x the escalator covers to the nearest tenth of a foot.

Solution:

In a right angle triangle,


\cos \theta=(Base)/(Hypotenuse)

Using this formula for the given triangle, we get


\cos 41^\circ=(x)/(26)


26\cos 41^\circ=x


26(0.7547)=x


19.6222=x

Round the value to the nearest tenth.


x\approx 19.6

Therefore, the escalator covers 19.6 ft horizontally.

User Secure
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