Homework Help: Trigonometry and figuring out the length of the hypotenuse

mariner962 · Sep 2, 2012

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A monkey is chained to a stake in the ground. The stake is 2.15 m from a vertical pole, and the chain is 4.50 m long. How high can the monkey climb up the pole?
The answer is given in meters

rock.freak667 · Sep 2, 2012

What attempt have you made? Which trig function do you think should be used?

mariner962 · Sep 2, 2012

I was not too sure where to start. I know that I have both of the lengths but I am confused about how to approach the problem

SHISHKABOB · Sep 2, 2012

try drawing a picture and labeling the parts and looking at the various angles in the problem

mariner962 · Sep 2, 2012

okay so i have a right triangle and is the height that can be climbed the hypotenuse?

SHISHKABOB · Sep 2, 2012

the hypotenuse would probably be the length of the chain, since I would imagine the 90 degree angle in this right triangle would be the angle between the pole and the ground

Bhumble · Sep 2, 2012

Welcome to PF.
This problem can be solved with just algebra and the Pythagorean theorem.
The monkey walks over 2.15 m from the stake to the pole (x-axis).
The monkey climbs up the pole an unknown amount (y-axis).
The maximum chain length is 4.50 m (hypotenuse).