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Solve Right Triangles PowerPoint

The document provides examples and explanations for solving right triangles using trigonometric definitions, including finding missing sides or angles when given certain known parts of a right triangle. Several real-world examples are given involving surveying heights or distances using angles of elevation or depression. Key terms like angle of elevation and depression are defined.

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Katherine Lee
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178 views13 pages

Solve Right Triangles PowerPoint

The document provides examples and explanations for solving right triangles using trigonometric definitions, including finding missing sides or angles when given certain known parts of a right triangle. Several real-world examples are given involving surveying heights or distances using angles of elevation or depression. Key terms like angle of elevation and depression are defined.

Uploaded by

Katherine Lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOLVING RIGHT TRIANGLES

Using your definitions to solve “real


world” problems.
What does it mean to solve a right
triangle?
• Solving a right triangle means to find all the
unknown parts.
• You are usually given one side of a right
triangle and one of the acute angles and asked
to find one of the other sides,
• Or
• Your are given two sides and asked to find one
of the acute angles.
For example

• Given the triangle shown find • 1st label all the sides and
the remaining parts of the angles.
triangle. • Now look at your trig.
definitions and decide which
one will let you find sides a and
B b and the angle at B.

6
c
a

400

C A
b
Another example
• Given that two legs of a right triangle are 8 and 15, find the
measure of the acute angles.
B

15

A
8
Some terms you will need.

• Angle of elevation.
• The angle measured from
the horizontal to the top Lin
eo
of the object in question. fs
igh
t
• The angle of elevation to
the top of a fir tree is 
shown in the diagram. horizontal

Angle of elevation
Some terms you will need.

• Angle of depression: • The woman is watching the


dog.
• The angle measured
from the horizontal horizontal
down to the object in

question.
Angle of depression
ight
s
e of
Lin
Something interesting

• The woman is
watching the dog and
the dog is watching horizontal
the woman.

• <
ight Angle of depression
o fs
ne
Li

horizontal

Angle of elevation
Some examples

• A surveyor is standing
50 ft from the base of
a large tree. The
surveyor measures
the angle of elevation
to the top of the tree
as 71.50. How tall is
the tree.
First draw a quick sketch and place all
information in the sketch.

• A surveyor is standing
50 ft from the base of
a large tree. The
surveyor measures
x
the angle of elevation
to the top of the tree
as 71.50. How tall is 71.50
the tree.
50 ft
Another example

• From the top of a 7020’


lookout tower, the
angle of depression of
a small fire is 70 20’. If

100 ft
the height of the
tower is 100 ft, how
far from the base of
the tower is the fire?
• Make a quick sketch.
7020’
• Label known and
unknowns.
• Notice that the given 100 ft
angle is not inside the
triangle.

x
Another example
• A person is 200 yds from a river. Rather than
walking directly to the river, the person walks
400 yds along a straight path to the river’s
edge. Find the acute angle  between this
path and the river’s edge.
• See the figure.

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