Flagpole Geometry
Two cables, r and s, are attached to a pole at a point 16 feet above the ground. The combined length of the two cables is 50 feet. If cable r is attached to the ground 12 feet from the base of the pole, what is the measure of the angle, x, to the nearest degree, that cable s makes with the ground
https://s2.postimg.org/e80awwv6h/IMG_2516.jpg (An image to help answer the question)
The answer is 32.
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1 solution
To find x, we first want to find r. R+S=50. If the legs of the triangle with r are 12x16, we can find r by using the Pythagorean theorem. R=20. We then subtract 20 from 50 to get s, and see that s is 30. To find x, we do (2nd sin 16/30) which gives us 32