right triangle trig

[petterjessica]

A support wire is attached to the top of a tower and to a piont on the ground that is 40 meters from the base. if the wire makes an angle of 58.2 degrees with the ground, approximate the length of the wire.

 

[tkhunny]

Hmmm... What an odd angle meansure to be asked to estimate...Hmmm...why would the author pick that angle?

It's pretty close to 60º. That might be important.

If one were travelling on a Unit Circle, starting from (1,0) and heading North, a trip of 1 unit would stop at 57.3º

We're shooting all around it. Any other theories?

 

[Denis]

Draw the "resulting right triangle".
You'll then see that Mr. Law-of-Sines is your Hero. :wink: