Question

An electrician leans an extension ladder against the outside wall of a house so that it reaches an electrical box 34 feet up. The ladder makes an angle of 63 degrees with the ground. Find the length of the ladder, and round your answer to the nearest tenth of a foot if necessary.

Answer 1

38.2 ft

Explanation:

The ladder, the ground, and the wall make a right triangle.

The wall is the opposite leg to the 63° angle.

The ladder is the hypotenuse.

Let x = length of the hypotenuse.

sin Θ = opp/hyp

sin 63° = 34 ft / x

x × sin 63° = 34 ft

x = 34 ft / sin 63°

x = 38.2 ft