A field in the shape of a right triangle is bordered on one side by a stream, on another side by a road, and on a third side by
a fence. What angle does this stream make with the road? Enter your answer in the box. Round only your final answer to the nearest degree. ° A field in the shape of a right triangle. The bottom of the field is a fence. The right side of the field is a road. The fence and the road meet at a right angle. The third side of the field is a stream. The distance along the road between the fence and the stream is 20 yards. The distance along the stream between the fence and the road is 27 yards.
For this problem, it may help you to draw it out to visualize it. You want to find the angle between the stream and road. Based on the description the triangle looks like this.
/ |
Stream(27) / | Road( 20)
/__|
Fence
You know the length of the road is 20, and the stream is 27. The angle can be found by using Cos∅=a/h. Adjacent to where the road and stream meet is the road, 20, and hypotenuse is the stream, 27.
So 20/27 = .74 = Cos∅
To find the angle ∅ use inverse cosine to get 42°.
Hope that helps and let me know if I did anything incorrectly!
