Math Problem Statement

Avery leans a 24-foot ladder against a wall so that it forms an angle of 80degrees∘ with the ground. How high up the wall does the ladder reach? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a foot if necessary.

Solution

To solve this problem, you can use trigonometry, specifically the sine function. The sine of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the hypotenuse.

Given:

  • The length of the ladder (hypotenuse) c=24c = 24 feet
  • The angle between the ladder and the ground θ=80\theta = 80^\circ

We want to find the height hh up the wall, which is the side opposite the angle.

The sine function is defined as: sin(θ)=oppositehypotenuse=hc\sin(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{h}{c}

So, we can solve for hh: h=csin(θ)h = c \cdot \sin(\theta)

Substituting the values: h=24sin(80)h = 24 \cdot \sin(80^\circ)

Now, calculate hh: h240.984823.6 feeth \approx 24 \cdot 0.9848 \approx 23.6 \text{ feet}

So, the ladder reaches approximately 23.6 feet up the wall.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are some related questions you might find interesting:

  1. What is the horizontal distance from the base of the ladder to the wall?
  2. How would the height change if the ladder were at a 70-degree angle instead?
  3. What if the ladder was 30 feet long? How high up would it reach at the same angle?
  4. What is the relationship between the angle and the height reached for a fixed ladder length?
  5. How would the height change if the angle were 90 degrees?

Tip: When dealing with angles and lengths in right triangles, the sine, cosine, and tangent functions are your best tools for finding missing sides.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Trigonometry
Right Triangle

Formulas

Sine function: sin(theta) = opposite/hypotenuse

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12