Trigonometry and figuring out the length of the hypotenuse

AI Thread Summary
To determine how high a monkey can climb up a pole while chained to a stake, the problem involves a right triangle where the distance from the stake to the pole is 2.15 m and the chain length is 4.50 m. The height the monkey can climb is represented on the y-axis, while the horizontal distance to the pole is on the x-axis. The relationship between these lengths can be analyzed using the Pythagorean theorem, where the hypotenuse is the length of the chain. By applying the theorem, the maximum height can be calculated. This approach effectively combines algebra with trigonometric principles to solve the problem.
mariner962
Messages
6
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


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
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What attempt have you made? Which trig function do you think should be used?
 
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
 
try drawing a picture and labeling the parts and looking at the various angles in the problem
 
okay so i have a right triangle and is the height that can be climbed the hypotenuse?
 
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
 
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).
 
Back
Top