What is the height of the cliff in this scenario?

In summary, the tower is 125 feet high and is located on a cliff on the bank of a river. From the top of the tower, the angle of depression of a point on the opposite shore is 28.7 degrees and from the base of the tower, the angle of depression of the same point is 18.3 degrees. Using the law of sines, we can find that the height of the cliff is approximately 206.4 feet.
  • #1
ramz
13
0
A tower 125 feet high is on a cliff on the bank of a river. From the top of the tower, the angle of depression of a point on the opposite shore is 28.7 degrees. From the base of the tower, the angle of depression of the same point is 18.3 degrees. Find the height of the cliff. (Assume the cliff is perpendicular to the river.)

Please help me to solve this problem.
 
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  • #2
Have you at least drawn a diagram? Identified a triangle? Filled in all the information you can about that triangle?
 
  • #3
Prove It said:
Have you at least drawn a diagram? Identified a triangle? Filled in all the information you can about that triangle?

That's my problem too, to interpret the problem and make an illustration.

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Please help me to interpret the problem and make an illustration or diagram because the diagram is not given. Thanks
 
  • #4
Here is a diagram:

View attachment 4818

Can you begin by finding the values of the angles labeled $a,\,b,\,c,\,d$?
 

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  • #5
Thanks.
 
  • #6
The height of the cliff is 190.71 ft., am i right?
 
  • #7
Well, we know:

\(\displaystyle a=90^{\circ}-28.7^{\circ}=61.3^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle a=90^{\circ}-18.3^{\circ}=71.7^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle c=18.3^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle d=28.7^{\circ}-18.3^{\circ}=10.4^{\circ}\)

If we let $\ell$ be the side common to both triangles, we may use the law of sines to state:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\ell}{\sin\left(90^{\circ}\right)}=\frac{h}{\sin(c)}\implies h=\ell\sin(c)\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\ell}{\sin(a)}=\frac{125\text{ ft}}{\sin(d)}\implies\ell=\frac{125\sin(a)}{\sin(d)}\text{ ft}\)

And so we find:

\(\displaystyle h=\frac{125\sin(a)\sin(c)}{\sin(d)}\text{ ft}\approx206.4\text{ ft}\)
 

FAQ: What is the height of the cliff in this scenario?

What is the Law of Sines?

The Law of Sines is a mathematical principle that relates the sides and angles of a triangle. It states that the ratio of the length of a side of a triangle to the sine of its opposite angle is constant.

How is the Law of Sines used in real life?

The Law of Sines has many applications in real life, such as in navigation and surveying. It can also be used to solve problems involving triangles, such as finding the height of a tall object or the distance between two points.

Can the Law of Sines be used to solve any triangle?

No, the Law of Sines can only be used to solve triangles that are not right triangles. For right triangles, the Law of Sines is replaced by the Pythagorean theorem.

What is the formula for the Law of Sines?

The formula for the Law of Sines is a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C, where a, b, and c are the lengths of the sides of the triangle and A, B, and C are the measures of the opposite angles.

How many solutions can the Law of Sines provide?

The Law of Sines can provide either one, two, or no solutions depending on the given information. If all side lengths and one angle are known, there is only one possible solution. If two sides and one opposite angle are known, there can be two possible solutions. And if two angles and one opposite side are known, there may be no solutions.

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