Law of Sines/Cosines: 200-m downhill run, 150-m level, and

[jessilovin]

A course for a skateboard race consists of a 200-meter downhill run and a 150-meter level potion. The angle of elevation of the starting point of the race form the finish line is 27.4degrees. What angle does the hill make with the horizontal? Use the Law of Sines, cosinnes, or both.

Help with a visual aid of what they are saying would help and the steps I need to take to solve this problem. I am a little confused on how the triangle would look and what measurements would go where. I don't need the answer I just can't understand how to solve it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 4993]

A course for a skateboard race consists of a 200-meter downhill run and a 150-meter level potion. The angle of elevation of the starting point of the race form the finish line is 27.4degrees. What angle does the hill make with the horizontal? Use the Law of Sines, cosinnes, or both.

Help with a visual aid of what they are saying would help and the steps I need to take to solve this problem. I am a little confused on how the triangle would look and what measurements would go where. I don't need the answer I just can't understand how to solve it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Draw a slanted line AB (AB = 200)

Draw a level line BC (BC = 150)

Join AC (dotted line).

Given mACB = 27.4°

Need to find mABC = ?

Now decide which law will be able to give the answer most directly (either of the laws, applied correctly will give the answer here - eventually.)

Apply the chosen law and solve.

If you are still stuck write back showing your work - and exactly where you are stuck.

 

[tkhunny]

What angle does the hill make with the horizontal?

Need to find mABC = ?

If one were to find the angle of elevation from the bottom of the hill to the top of the hill (the supplement to this angle), I would have to argue that this result might also be a correct answer to this problem statement.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Yes - I agree that the supplement of ABC is the correct answer.

After finding mABC - the supplement would be found. I left that for the student to figure out.

Instead of calling 'mABC' as the answer - I just said need to find mABC.

 

[tkhunny]

Using the "If my kid brought it home" premise, I would argue either as correct. "What angle does it make with the ground" is ambiguous. Frankly, in a vacuum, I would lean more toward the interior angle. It is only with years of exposure that I am inclined to think it means the "Angle of Elevation", even if it does not say so.