Question

Michael is constructing a boat ramp. He knows that the angle of elevation of the ramp is 25°. If the distance from the bottom of the boat ramp to the top of the boat ramp is 40 feet, what is the approximate height of the boat ramp?

Answer 1

17

Explanation:

Answer 2

The approximate height of the boat ramp is 18.6 ft

Explanation:

This problem can be thought of as a right triangle

well to start we have to know the relationship between angles, legs and the hypotenuse in a right triangle

α = 25°

a: adjacent = 40ft

o: opposite = height

sin α = o/h

cos α= a/h

tan α = o/a

we see that it has (angle, adjacent, opposite)

we look at which meets those data between the sine, cosine and tangent

is the tangent

tan α = o/a

Now we replace the values ​​and solve

tan 25° = o / 40ft

0.4662 * 40ft = o

18.65ft = o

The approximate height of the boat ramp is 18.6 ft