Library

Tricky Trig

By Andrew Stewart
Last updated almost 7 years ago
4 Questions
Note from the author:
Some tricky real-life problems that use sine, cosine, or tangent.
1.

Compute the height of the figure part of the Statue of Liberty in feet to the nearest tenth.

Play with this Desmos model. Two Coast Guard lookouts, A and B, are on an east-west line.
2.

To find the value of x, it is helpful to first find the value of y. Find the value of y. Round to the nearest hundredth.

3.

Now that you have found y, find the value of x. Round to the nearest tenth. Your answer represents how far the ship is from lookout B.

4.

How tall is the TV tower on top of the building? Round to the nearest hundredth.