Question

Hector is flying a kite. He has let out 86 feet of string and is holding it 4 feet off the ground. If the string is at an angle of elevation of 42°15'30", how high is the kite?

Answer 1

h = 61.83 feet

Explanation:

length of string from Hector to kite = c = 86 feet.

and 4 feet off the ground.

angle A = 42° 15' 30"

req'd: how high is the kite?

angle A = 42° + 15' (1° / 60') + 30"(1° / 3600'')

angle A = 42.26

to get the side a (height of kite) 4 feet above ground: use Sin(A) = opp / hyp

Sin(A) = a / c

Sin(42.26) = a / 86

a = Sin(42.26) * 86

a = 57.83 feet

therefore, the height of the kite from the ground = h = 57.83 + 4

h = 61.83 feet