Steve and Peggy want to rent a 40 foot by 25 foot tent for their backyard to host a barbecue. The base of the tent is supported 7 feet above the ground by poles and then roped stakes are used for support. The ropes make a 60 degree angle with the ground. How large a footprint in their yard would they need for this tent (and staked ropes)? In other words, what are the dimensions of the rectangle formed by the stakes on the ground?

Answer 1

Depends. The tent stakes can be anywhere on an arc of radius 3.5 ft from the corner poles. Do the tent ropes lie in the plane of the long walls, the short walls, or somewhere else?