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MacGyver wants to estimate the width of a river so he can get to the other side to save the world. He makes the measurements pictured. How wide is the river? Will he be able to do it?

MacGyver wants to estimate the width of a river so he can get to the other side to-example-1

1 Answer

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Answer:

Wideness ≈ 40 m

He will be able to do it .

Explanation:

He wants to estimate the width of a river so he can get to the other side to save the world . The width of the river is the side AB. From the scale above 2 right angle triangle are formed . The smaller triangle is CDE and the larger triangle is CAB.

The angle ECD can be gotten below

tan C = opposite/adjacent

tan C = 8/6

tan C = 1.3333

C = tan⁻¹ 1.333

C = 53.1301022854

C = 53. 13°

∠ACB = ∠ECD (vertically opposite angles)

Using the angle to find the wideness of the river AB in triangle CAB.

tan C = opposite/adjacent

tan 53.13° = AB/30

AB = 30 tan 53.13

AB = 30 × 1.33332837108

AB = 39.9998511323

AB ≈ 40 m

He will be able to do it.

User Luke Knepper
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