Thread: unsure about the term

So i was trying to solve a problem as listed as below.

From a boat on the lake, the angle of elevation to the top of a cliff is 29°38ʹ. If the base of the cliff is
655 feet from the boat, how high is the cliff (to the nearest foot)?

I am unsure how to approach this problem because i dont get what 29°38ʹ is!

is it trying to tell me that it is 29 degree and 38 ft??

No, it's 29 degrees and 38 minutes. A minute is 1/60 of a degree.

so,, would it mean 29 and 38/60 degree?? how do i solve that? please help me! i am very confused

Draw a diagram. Use trig.

Originally Posted by Calcgirl

so,, would it mean 29 and 38/60 degree?? how do i solve that? please help me! i am very confused

... use the and your calculator to solve for the height (opposite side of this angle) in the right triangle problem.

oh thanks! Now i can solve it!

I could not do that and that is why i posted here

Originally Posted by Prove It

A minute is 1/60 of a degree.

Fun fact: Minute means "minute." "Second" means second minute part of an hour (or degree), so "minute" is, in fact, first minute part of an hour.

Originally Posted by Calcgirl

I could not do that and that is why i posted here

could not do what? be specific.

Just get its value of 38 min from the tan table.
tan A=P/B
here p=perpendicular
b=base
so tan(29 degree and 38 min)=P/655
In this question we can easily find out the value of tan29 but got 38 we have to check its value from table