A rope from the top of a mast on a sailboat is attached to a point 19 feet from the mast. If the rope is 28 feet long, how tall is th- mast? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 DELL

Elementary Geometry For College Students, 7e
7th Edition
ISBN:9781337614085
Author:Alexander, Daniel C.; Koeberlein, Geralyn M.
Publisher:Alexander, Daniel C.; Koeberlein, Geralyn M.
ChapterP: Preliminary Concepts
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### Understanding Right-Angle Triangles on a Sailboat

#### Problem Statement

A rope from the top of a mast on a sailboat is attached to a point 19 feet from the mast. If the rope is 28 feet long, how tall is the mast? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot.

#### Explanation and Solution

In this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to determine the height of the mast. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right-angled triangle:

\[ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \]

- \( c \) represents the hypotenuse (the rope in this case, 28 feet).
- \( a \) represents one leg of the triangle (the distance from the mast, 19 feet).
- \( b \) represents the other leg of the triangle (the height of the mast, which we need to find).

Given:

- Hypotenuse, \( c = 28 \) feet
- One leg, \( a = 19 \) feet

We need to find \( b \) (height of the mast).

From the Pythagorean theorem:

\[ 19^2 + b^2 = 28^2 \]

\[ 361 + b^2 = 784 \]

Subtract 361 from both sides:

\[ b^2 = 784 - 361 \]

\[ b^2 = 423 \]

Take the square root of both sides:

\[ b = \sqrt{423} \approx 20.6 \]

So, the height of the mast is approximately 20.6 feet, rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot.

#### Visual Representation

In the image, there is a diagram of a sailboat with a right-angled triangle formed by the mast, the horizontal distance, and the rope. This helps visualize the problem and apply the Pythagorean theorem correctly.

---

Note: It is essential to ensure accuracy in rounding and understanding the geometric principles involved in solving such real-world problems using mathematical concepts.
Transcribed Image Text:### Understanding Right-Angle Triangles on a Sailboat #### Problem Statement A rope from the top of a mast on a sailboat is attached to a point 19 feet from the mast. If the rope is 28 feet long, how tall is the mast? Round to the nearest tenth of a foot. #### Explanation and Solution In this problem, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to determine the height of the mast. The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right-angled triangle: \[ a^2 + b^2 = c^2 \] - \( c \) represents the hypotenuse (the rope in this case, 28 feet). - \( a \) represents one leg of the triangle (the distance from the mast, 19 feet). - \( b \) represents the other leg of the triangle (the height of the mast, which we need to find). Given: - Hypotenuse, \( c = 28 \) feet - One leg, \( a = 19 \) feet We need to find \( b \) (height of the mast). From the Pythagorean theorem: \[ 19^2 + b^2 = 28^2 \] \[ 361 + b^2 = 784 \] Subtract 361 from both sides: \[ b^2 = 784 - 361 \] \[ b^2 = 423 \] Take the square root of both sides: \[ b = \sqrt{423} \approx 20.6 \] So, the height of the mast is approximately 20.6 feet, rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot. #### Visual Representation In the image, there is a diagram of a sailboat with a right-angled triangle formed by the mast, the horizontal distance, and the rope. This helps visualize the problem and apply the Pythagorean theorem correctly. --- Note: It is essential to ensure accuracy in rounding and understanding the geometric principles involved in solving such real-world problems using mathematical concepts.
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