Use Trigonometric Ratios to solve. Round to the nearest tenth.

Question

A 20-foot ladder is placed against a tree. The ladder forms a 60 angle with the ground. How high up the tree does the ladder reach

Answer 1

20 = hypotenuse = h = side opposite right angle

find height = a = side opposite 60 degrees angle

use law of sines

a/sin60 = 20/sin90 = 20/1 = 20

a = 20sin60 = 20 x sqr3/2 = 10sqr3 = about 17.32

= about 17.3 feet

rounded to one decimal place