How Do You Calculate Tension in a Cable and Compression in a Brace?

[copyfilew]

Homework Statement

A 235lb sign is supported from a wall by a cable inclined 37 degrees with the horizontal, and a brace perpendicular to the wall. Find the tension in the cable and the compression in the boom.

The answers are 390.5 and 311.9. But I have no idea how they got to those numbers. :S

Homework Equations

No idea?

The Attempt at a Solution

Tried to find the x/y components of the vectors, but I'm confused now.

 

[PhanthomJay]

Homework Statement

A 235lb sign is supported from a wall by a cable inclined 37 degrees with the horizontal, and a brace perpendicular to the wall. Find the tension in the cable and the compression in the boom.

The answers are 390.5 and 311.9. But I have no idea how they got to those numbers. :S

Homework Equations

No idea?

The Attempt at a Solution

Tried to find the x/y components of the vectors, but I'm confused now.

One way is to draw a free body diagram of the sign and identify the forces acting on it ...its weight down, the cable tension along the length of the cable (which has an x and a y component), and the brace compression along its length (x component only). Then use Newton 1 inthe x and y direction to solve for the components.