Trig problem

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 20 May 2006 19:33

Hey guys, I'm having trouble with this problem. I can probably solve the problem, but I don't understand what the problem is asking. Due Monday! Any help? Thanks!

Here's the problem! http://www.freewebs.com/banderscreations/oil.bmp

Feel free to copy the picture and scrible all over it.

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 21 May 2006 06:50

Yeah, what confusing questions! I think I figured out what they're asking.

a. They're looking for the horizontal distance on the surface of the earth from where the fault begins, to where the oil well is located. So it's the side of the triangle that is the surface of the earth, the triangle with 74 deg angle in it. You'll need to solve for that distance (not saying that's easy).

b. This should be the length of the line from the oil well to the point where it says "oil here". Again, not easy.

I'd sit down and try to the figure the problem out but it's probably a good 20-30 minutes of work. Take a stab, see what you come up with.

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 21 May 2006 09:58

Sweet! Thanks a bunch Ben!

Spontaneous Spaz · Post by **Spontaneous Spaz** » 21 May 2006 20:01

wow.. that's pretty hard... i looked at it and got that too, but couldn't solve it... the drawing is weird and its hard to tell if the 85 feet reaches the bottom of the triangle or not.. idk

Bander87 · Post by **Bander87** » 21 May 2006 20:39

Ah screw it, it was only bonus points and its getting late. Thanks for the replys guys. If anyone is bored or likes to do math, this would be a good problem!

pips · Post by **pips** » 21 May 2006 23:06

i started it last night but forgot that i have no batteries for my calculator.

I think I know what to do, though...figure out all the angles then use the sin cos sin stuff to find the lengths.

full nelson · Post by **full nelson** » 22 May 2006 06:03

You have to find the angles of the trangle beside the one you need with the complementary angle of 74 (106) to find the angle for side length 2100 ft (47 degrees). Then you use the law of sines to find the hypotenuse (1303.58 ft) of the side of the right triangle you need and add 85 ft to it. Then use it for the rest of the sides of the right triangle to get your answers.

a. 382.75 ft
b. 1334.79 ft

That's what I got. This is what I used to solve the triangles: A/sin(a)=B/sin(b)=C/sin(c).

Let me know if I'm wrong.