Trigonometry (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671775
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-177-6

Chapter 7 - Applications of Trigonometry and Vectors - Section 7.3 The Law of Cosines - 7.3 Exercises - Page 316: 52

Answer

The horizontal distance between point A and point B is 18 feet.

Work Step by Step

Let $a = 10~ft$, let $b = 10~ft$, and let angle $C = 128^{\circ}$. We can use the law of cosines to find $c$, the length of the line opposite the angle $C$: $c^2 = a^2+b^2-2ab~cos~C$ $c = \sqrt{a^2+b^2-2ab~cos~C}$ $c = \sqrt{(10~ft)^2+(10~ft)^2-(2)(10~ft)(10~ft)~cos~128^{\circ}}$ $c = \sqrt{323.13~ft^2}$ $c = 18~ft$ The horizontal distance between point A and point B is 18 feet.
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