Question

When a hockey player attempts a shot he is 26 feet from the left post of the goal and 30 feet from the right post. The distance between a hockey goals posts is 6 feet. What is the players shot angle to the nearest degree?

A. 15 degrees
B.13 degrees
C. 11 degrees
D.9 degrees

Answer 1

D. 9º

Explanation:

Law of Cosines

c² = a² + b² - 2ab * cosC

6² = 26² + 30² - 2(26)(30) * cosC

36 = 676 + 900 - 1,560 * cosC

36 = 1,576 - 1.560 * cosC

Subtract 1,576 from both sides

-1,540 = - 1,560 * cosC

Divide both sides by -1,560

0.9871794872 = cosC

∅ = arccos 0.9871794872

∅ = 9.184497765314714

Rounded

∅ = 9º