Question

A board is leaning against a vertical wall. One end of the board rests on the ground at a point eight feet from the wall. The other end of the board touches the wall at a point that is six feet above the ground.

35 POINTS!Use a trigonometric function to determine the angle that the board creates with the ground (m∠A). In at least four sentences, explain why you chose your specific function and how it applies to the measure of angle A. Be sure to include the key vocabulary words "tangent", "ratio", "opposite side", "adjacent side" and "angle measure" in your response. Describe each computational step in complete sentences.

Answer 1

36.87°

Explanation:

Since ABC is a right-angle triangle, we can use trigonometric ratios to solve for unknown angles and sides.

For Angle at A, we have lengths of opposite and adjacent sides so we can use tangent at A.

tan(A) = opposite/adjacent

tan(A) = CB/AB

tan(A) = 6/8

A = (tan^-1)(0.75)

A = 36.86989765°