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 trigonometry help, check please

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A sled travels from point A at the top of a hill to point B at the bottom. If the sled travels 120 m from A to B and the vertical descent AC is 50 m, what is the angle of depression to the nearest degree?

 

i set it up arcttan=50/120

 Jun 2, 2014

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 #4
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oh okay, thank you

 Jun 2, 2014

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 #1
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Let's see

We know the opposite = 50  and the hypoteneuse = 120

So the ratio that defines this is the sine

So we have

sin(θ) = 50/120

Can you take it from here???

 

BTW...the vertical descent is CB, not AC. AC would be the horizontal distance of travel.

 Jun 2, 2014
 #2
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so by using arctan I set it up as if I'm looking for the base?

 Jun 2, 2014
 #3
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No....you wouldn't be finding anything, because 50 is a leg and 120 is the hpoteneuse. And the atan would have to relate to an angle created by the ratio of the two legs.

 Jun 2, 2014
 #4
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oh okay, thank you

Guest Jun 2, 2014
 #5
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See if this picture helps...note that the angle of depression is CAB

 Jun 2, 2014

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