Introduction To Right AngleTrigonometry Applications

Part 1

Suppose that a 10 meter ladder is leaning against a building such that the angle of elevation from ground to the building is 62o . Find the distance of the foot of the ladder from the wall. Also find the distance from the ground to the top of the ladder.

10 m

62ox

y

sin 62o =y

10m

10 sin 62 8.829y m m

10 cos 62 4.695x m m

cos 62o =x

10 m

Suppose that from atop a 100 m vertical cliff a ship is spotted atan angle of depression of 12o. How far is the ship from the base of the cliff ? Also find the distance from the top of the cliff to the ship.

100 m

c

x

12o

90o – 12o = 78o tan 78o =

x

100 m

100 tan(78 ) 470.463x m m

cos 78o =

c

100 m

100

480.973cos 78

mc m