Final answer:
The smallest angle in the right triangle is approximately 22.62 degrees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The smallest angle in a right triangle can be found using trigonometric functions. In this case, we have a right triangle with two short sides of lengths 5 and 12 feet. To find the smallest angle, we can use the inverse tangent function. The formula for the smallest angle (let's call it angle A) is:
angle A = tan-1(opposite side / adjacent side)
Plugging in the values, we get:
angle A = tan-1(5 / 12)
Using a calculator, we can find that angle A is approximately 22.62 degrees.