A toddler's playground has two slides on either side. The slide on the left is situated at a 45° angle to the ground and is 64 centimeters away from the base of the playground. The slide on the right is positioned at a 30° angle to the ground and is 106 centimeters away from the playground's base.

Playground with two slides. Left slide has base measuring 64 centimeters and base angle of 45 degrees. Right slide has base measuring 106 centimeters and base angle of 30 degrees.

What is the total length of both slides on this playground, rounded to the nearest tenth of a centimeter?

294.4
274.1
212.9
186.4

1 answer

To determine the total length of the two slides, we can use trigonometry, specifically the relationship between the angle, the opposite side, and the adjacent side of a right triangle.

Left Slide Calculation:

  • Distance from the base = 64 cm
  • Angle with the ground = 45°

Using the tangent function, we can find the height \(h\): \[ \tan(45°) = \frac{h}{64} \] Since \(\tan(45°) = 1\), we have: \[ 1 = \frac{h}{64} \implies h = 64 \text{ cm} \]

Now to find the length of the slide (hypotenuse \(l\)), we can use the Pythagorean theorem: \[ l^2 = 64^2 + 64^2 \] \[ l^2 = 4096 + 4096 = 8192 \] \[ l = \sqrt{8192} = 64\sqrt{2} \approx 90.5 \text{ cm} \]

Right Slide Calculation:

  • Distance from the base = 106 cm
  • Angle with the ground = 30°

Using the tangent function again to find the height \(h\): \[ \tan(30°) = \frac{h}{106} \] Since \(\tan(30°) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} \approx 0.577\), we have: \[ \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{h}{106} \implies h = \frac{106}{\sqrt{3}} \approx 61.4 \text{ cm} \]

Now to find the length of the slide (hypotenuse \(l\)) using the Pythagorean theorem: \[ l^2 = 106^2 + h^2 \] Calculate \(h^2\): \[ h^2 = \left(\frac{106}{\sqrt{3}}\right)^2 = \frac{106^2}{3} \approx 3721.33 \] Calculate \(l^2\): \[ l^2 = 106^2 + \frac{106^2}{3} = 11236 + 3721.33 = 14957.33 \] \[ l = \sqrt{14957.33} \approx 122.3 \text{ cm} \]

Total Length of Both Slides: Now we can add both lengths together: \[ \text{Total Length} = 90.5 \text{ cm} + 122.3 \text{ cm} \approx 212.8 \text{ cm} \]

Rounding to the nearest tenth of a centimeter, the total length is approximately 212.9 cm.

Therefore, the answer is 212.9.