FPC Math
10 Trigonometry Word problem.
Name:_________________
1) A traditional teepee uses 13 poles to form its conical shape. The poles are inclined at
an angle of 65° to the ground and tied together 4.8 m up their length. Calculate the
diameter of this structure, to the nearest tenth of a metre.
2) In areas with extreme winds, houses are constructed with steel rods that run
diagonally inside walls to help keep walls square. Rods are sold in standard lengths
of 4 m and 5 m.
If standard walls are 2.5 m high, what angle does the 5-m rod make with the
floor? What angle with the floor does the 4-m rod make? State your answers to the
nearest degree.
FPC Math
10 Trigonometry Word problem.
Name:_____KEY_____
1) A traditional teepee uses 13 poles to form its conical shape. The poles are inclined at
an angle of 65° to the ground and tied together 4.8 m up their length. Calculate the
diameter of this structure, to the nearest tenth of a metre.
x
Cos 65° =
4.8
,
x = 4.8·Cos 65° = 2.029 m
Diameter = 2· x = 2· 2.029 ≈ 4.1 m
2) In areas with extreme winds, houses are constructed with steel rods that run
diagonally inside walls to help keep walls square. Rods are sold in standard lengths
of 4 m and 5 m.
If standard walls are 2.5 m high, what angle does the 5-m rod make with the
floor? What angle with the floor does the 4-m rod make? State your answers to the
nearest degree.
The red line represents the 5 m rod in
the diagram, and angle A is the angle
that we need to find.
sin A =
2 .5
,
5
 A = sin 1
2 .5
5
 A = 30°
The blue line represents the 4 m rod in the diagram, and angle B is the angle
that we need to find.
sin B =
2.5
,
4
B =
sin 1
 B = 39°
2.5
4