Geometry word problem

Question

A 60-foot flagpole was placed in front of a post office, perpendicular to the ground. After many years, the flagpole began to lean. The distance from the top of the flagpole to the ground is now 50 feet. Which expression shows how to determine the angle the flagpole makes with the ground?

 

 

A.sin A = 50/60

B.cos A = 50/60

C.sin A = 60/50

D.cos A =60/50

Answer 1

the flagpole , the distance from the top of the flagpole to the ground, and the distance from where the imaginary line (50 feet) touches the ground to the flagpole make a right triangle

the flagpole is the hypotenuse and the distance from the top of the flagpole to the ground is one leg

sin=opposite/hypotenuse

sinA=50/60 which is A.

 

Answer 2

The answer is A.

 

Set up a right triangle.  The flagpole (60ft) is the hypotenuse.  50 ft, the height of the flagpole to the ground is considered the opposite. 

 

soh cha toa, you want to use sin = opp/hyp 

 

sinA = 50/60