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twotaileddemon
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Homework Statement
A roller coaster moves 200 ft horizontally and then rises 135 ft at an angle of 30* above the horizontal. It then travels 135 ft at an angel of 40* downward. What is its displacement from its starting point?
Homework Equations
Standard trig, I guess.
The Attempt at a Solution
I know that the displacement in feet is 420 ft, and I did that using trig which I could type up, but I already am 100% positive of that answer. But I need to find it in degrees too. For instance, 10* below the starting point, or 350*. But I just don't know how to get it! I drew a huge diagram on scrap paper with A - B, B - C, C - D, and A - D following the above information. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appriciated.
Edit: I'll explain my work better. At a 30* angle, the rollercoster traveled 135 feet. Thus, the distance from the start traveled horizontally is 135cos30 =116.91 ft. Furthermore, it traveled down at a 40* angle, which is 50* in respect to the ground, so 135sin50=103.4 ft. 200 ft + 117 ft + 103 ft = 420 ft, which is the answer I got and what the "webassign" (computer program I use in class for homework) got (it tells you if the answer is right). Now I need to figure out how many degrees below the horizontal (starting point) the rollercoster ended up. Any help from this point is appreciated greatly ^^
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