A 25

-foot-long footbridge has two diagonal supports that meet in the center of the bridge.

Each support makes a 65
angle with a short vertical support.

A diagram shows the footbridge, the diagonal supports and the vertical supports create two right triangles. At the top of the diagram a horizontal line is shown and labeled 25 feet. The two right triangles are shown below this horizontal line.The two longest legs of both right triangles touch at the center of the footbridge.The shortest leg of both right triangles represents the vertical support on each end of the footbridge. The hypotenuse of both right triangles form the diagonal supports that meet at the center of the footbridge. The full length of the footbridge is 25 feet. The vertical supports are not labeled. Each diagonal support is labeled X. A 65-degree-angle is formed between the short vertical support and the diagonal support on each end of the bridge.

What is the length x of a diagonal support, to the nearest tenth of a foot?

blank feet

1 answer

To find the length \( x \) of the diagonal support, we can set up the problem using trigonometric relationships. Each diagonal support forms a right triangle with the vertical support and the horizontal line of the footbridge.

Given:

  • Angle with the vertical, \( \theta = 65^\circ \)
  • Half the length of the footbridge (the base of the right triangle), \( \frac{25}{2} = 12.5 \text{ feet} \)

In the right triangle formed, we can use the sine function or the cosine function to relate the angle, the opposite side (vertical support), and the hypotenuse (the diagonal support).

Using the cosine function: \[ \cos(65^\circ) = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{12.5}{x} \]

Rearranging the formula to solve for \( x \): \[ x = \frac{12.5}{\cos(65^\circ)} \]

Now we need to calculate \( \cos(65^\circ) \). Using a calculator, we find: \[ \cos(65^\circ) \approx 0.4226 \]

Now substituting back into the equation for \( x \): \[ x \approx \frac{12.5}{0.4226} \approx 29.6 \text{ feet} \]

Thus, the length of each diagonal support \( x \) is approximately \( \text{29.6 feet} \).

To the nearest tenth of a foot, the answer is: \[ \boxed{29.6 \text{ feet}} \]