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Trigonometry Word Problems

1. This document discusses using trigonometry to solve problems involving inaccessible heights or depths by measuring angles of elevation or depression from a known position. It provides examples of setting up right triangles from diagrams with given information and calculating unknowns using trigonometric ratios. 2. To solve problems involving two right triangles, one should draw a labeled diagram, identify the two triangles used, plan how to use each triangle, show the step-by-step work, and state the conclusion. 3. Solving trigonometry word problems involves sketching diagrams, labeling known and unknown values, identifying the appropriate trigonometric ratio, substituting given values and solving for the unknown.

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Vincent Guzman
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1K views

Trigonometry Word Problems

1. This document discusses using trigonometry to solve problems involving inaccessible heights or depths by measuring angles of elevation or depression from a known position. It provides examples of setting up right triangles from diagrams with given information and calculating unknowns using trigonometric ratios. 2. To solve problems involving two right triangles, one should draw a labeled diagram, identify the two triangles used, plan how to use each triangle, show the step-by-step work, and state the conclusion. 3. Solving trigonometry word problems involves sketching diagrams, labeling known and unknown values, identifying the appropriate trigonometric ratio, substituting given values and solving for the unknown.

Uploaded by

Vincent Guzman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Primary Trigonometric Ratios Word Problems

A. Determining the measures of the sides and angles of right triangles using the primary ratios
When we want to measure the height of an inaccessible object like a tree, pole, building, or cliff, we can utilize the
concepts of trigonometry.
To solve such inaccessible heights or depths using trigonometry, the following angle definitions are necessary
Angle of Elevation

line of sight


horizontal
Angle of Depression
horizontal

line of sight

SO!"#$ %OR A# &#'#OW# S"D( OR A#$(
Where !o " #egin$Where !oes "t %nd&
'. (ketch the triangle, if one has not been provided for you.
). *abel the given angle+s, and side+s,. "nclude the variable for the unknown side or angle, where needed.
-. *ooking from the given angle, label the opposite side, adjacent side, and hypotenuse.
.. Write the trig ratio +sin, cos, tan, that contains the given information and the unknown you want to find.
/. (ubstitute the given information, and solve for the unknown.
()ample *
"f your distance from the foot of the tower is )0 m and
the angle of elevation is .0, find the height of the tower.
The Angle of Elevation is the
angle from the horizontal to
your line of sight. (i.e. you are
looking upwards at the object)
The Angle of Depression is the
angle from the horizontal to the
line of sight. (i.e. you are
looking downwards at the
object)
()ample +
The angle of depression from the top of the 1astle
to boat is )/. "f the te2tbook is /0 m from
the base of the bluffs, how high are the bluffs
+to the nearest meter,&
*et h represent the height of the 1astle in meters.

Assignment
'. The stringer, that supports the stairs, makes an angle of /0 with the floor. "t reaches
-.) m up the wall. 3ow far is the base of the stringer from the wall&
). 4 ship is '-0 m away from the centre of a barrier that measures
'50 m from end to end. What is the minimum angle that the
boat must be turned to avoid hitting the barrier&
-. 4 ramp has an angle of inclination of )0. "t has a vertical height of '.5 m.
What is the length, * metres, of the ramp&
3.2 m
50
x
180 m
x
130 m
L
1.8 m
20
.. 4 damaged tree is supported by a guy wire '0.0 m long. The wire makes an
angle of 6' with the ground. 1alculate the height at which the guy wire is
attached to the tree.
/. 4 helicopter is hovering above a road at an altitude of ). m. 4t
a certain time, the distance between the helicopter and a car on
the road is ./.0 m. 1alculate the angle of elevation of the
helicopter from the car.
4nswers ', ).7 m ), -..7 -, /.- m ., 5.7 m /, -).)
,. Sol-ing problems in-ol-ing t.o right triangles in t.o dimensions.
To solve a problem involving two right triangles using trigonometry,
draw and label a diagram showing the given information, and the length or angle measure to be found
identify the two triangles that can be used to solve the problem, and plan how to use each triangle
solve the problem and show each step in your solution
write a concluding statement giving the answer
()ample *
Two students want to determine the heights of two buildings. They stand on the
roof of the shorter building. The students use a clinometer to measure the angle
of elevation of the top of the taller building. The angle is ..
o
. 8rom the same
position, the students measure the angle of depression of the base of the taller
building. The angle is /-
o
. The students then measure the horizontal distance
between the two buildings. The distance is '5.0 m. The students drew this
diagram. 3ow tall is each building&

h
10.0 m
61
x
45.0 m
24 m
E
53
44
18.0 m
B
A
D
C
()ample +
3ow would you calculate the length of 4# using the information
provided& (how all your steps.
Assignment
'. 8rom the top of a building )'.0 m tall, the angle of
elevation of the top of a taller building is .6. The angle
of depression of the base of the taller building is /'.
What is the height of the taller building&
). 8ind the length of 4#.
-. 8ind the length of 4!. (how the steps of your solution.

120 m
20
30
C
B
A
D
17.0 m
51
46
C
B
E
A
D
)'.0 m
40
6 m
3 m
10 m
B
A
55.0 m
46
55
A
B
C
D
.. (ean wishes to find the length of a pole, 1!, that is on the roof of a building.
The angles of elevation of 1 and ! are .0 and )5, respectively. The distance 4# is
.0.0 m. 8ind the length of the pole. (how the steps of your solution.
/. 4 person observes that from point 4, the angle of elevation to the top of a cliff at
! is -0. 4nother person at point #, notes that the angle of elevation to the top of the
cliff is ./. "f the height of the cliff is 50.0 m, find the distance between 4 and #.
(how the steps of your solution.
4nswers
1. .7.9 m ). 6.9 m -. 96.7 cm. .. ').- m /. /5.6 km
40.0 m
bui l di ng
C
B A
D

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