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# 4.4: Applications & Models

Created by: CK-12

## Learning Objectives

• Apply inverse trigonometric functions to real life situations.

The following problems are real-world problems that can be solved using the trigonometric functions. In everyday life, indirect measurement is used to obtain answers to problems that are impossible to solve using measurement tools. However, mathematics will come to the rescue in the form of trigonometry to calculate these unknown measurements.

Example 1: On a cold winter day the sun streams through your living room window and causes a warm, toasty atmosphere. This is due to the angle of inclination of the sun which directly affects the heating and the cooling of buildings. Noon is when the sun is at its maximum height in the sky and at this time, the angle is greater in the summer than in the winter. Because of this, buildings are constructed such that the overhang of the roof can act as an awning to shade the windows for cooling in the summer and yet allow the sun’s rays to provide heat in the winter. In addition to the construction of the building, the angle of inclination of the sun varies according to the latitude of the building’s location.

If the latitude of the location is known, then the following formula can be used to calculate the angle of inclination of the sun on any given date of the year:

$\text{Angle of sun} = 90^\circ - \text{latitude} + -23.5^\circ \cdot \cos \left [ (N+10) \frac{360}{365} \right ]$ where $N$ represents the number of the day of the year that corresponds to the date of the year. Note: This formula is accurate to $\pm \frac{1^\circ}{2}$

a. Determine the measurement of the sun’s angle of inclination for a building located at a latitude of $42^\circ$, March $10^{th}$, the $69^{th}$ day of the year.

Solution:

$\text{Angle of sun} & = 90^\circ - 42^\circ + -23.5^\circ \cdot \cos \left [(69+10) \frac{360}{365} \right ]\\\text{Angle of sun} & = 48^\circ + -23.5^\circ (0.2093)\\\text{Angle of sun} & = 48^\circ - 4.92^\circ\\\text{Angle of sun} & = 43.08^\circ$

b. Determine the measurement of the sun’s angle of inclination for a building located at a latitude of $20^\circ$, September $21^{st}$.

Solution:

$\text{Angle of sun} & = 90^\circ - 20^\circ + -23.5^\circ \cdot \cos \left [ (264+10) \frac{360}{365} \right ]\\\text{Angle of sun} & = 70^\circ + -23.5^\circ (0.0043)\\\text{Angle of sun} & = 70.10^\circ$

Example 2: A tower, 28.4 feet high, must be secured with a guy wire anchored 5 feet from the base of the tower. What angle will the guy wire make with the ground?

Solution: Draw a picture.

$\tan \theta & = \frac{opp.}{adj.}\\\tan \theta & = \frac{28.4}{5}\\\tan \theta & = 5.68\\\tan^{-1} (\tan \theta) & = \tan^{-1}(5.68)\\\theta & = 80.02^\circ$

The following problem that involves functions and their inverses will be solved using the property $f(f^{-1}(x)) = f^{-1}(f(x))$. In addition, technology will also be used to complete the solution.

Example 3: In the main concourse of the local arena, there are several viewing screens that are available to watch so that you do not miss any of the action on the ice. The bottom of one screen is 3 feet above eye level and the screen itself is 7 feet high. The angle of vision (inclination) is formed by looking at both the bottom and top of the screen.

a. Sketch a picture to represent this problem.

b. Calculate the measure of the angle of vision that results from looking at the bottom and then the top of the screen. At what distance from the screen does the maximum value for the angle of vision occur?

Solution:

a.

b. $\theta_2 &= \tan \theta - \tan \theta_1\\\tan \theta &= \frac{10}{x} \ \text{and} \ \tan \theta_1 = \frac{3}{x}\\\theta_2 &= \tan^{-1} \left ( \frac{10}{x} \right ) - \tan^{-1} \left ( \frac{3}{x} \right )$

To determine these values, use a graphing calculator and the trace function to determine when the actual maximum occurs.

From the graph, it can be seen that the maximum occurs when $x \approx 5.59 \ ft$. and $\theta \approx 32.57^\circ$.

Example 4: A silo is 40 feet high and 12 feet across. Find the angle of depression from the top edge of the silo to the floor of the opposite edge.

Solution: $\tan \theta = \frac{40}{12} \rightarrow \theta = \tan^{-1} \frac{40}{12} = 73.3^\circ$

Example 5: The pilot of an airplane flying at an elevation of 5000 feet sights two towers that are 300 feet apart. If the angle between the point directly below him and the base of the tower closer to him is $30^\circ$, determine the angle $y$ between the bases of the two towers.

Solution: Draw a picture. First we need to find $x$ in order to find $y$.

$\tan 30^\circ & = \frac{x}{5000} \rightarrow x = 5000 \tan 30^\circ \rightarrow x = 2886.75\\\tan (30^\circ + y) & = \frac{2886.75+300}{5000}\\\tan (30^\circ + y) & = \frac{3186.75}{5000}\\30^\circ +y & = \tan^{-1} \frac{3186.75}{5000} \\30^\circ + y & = 32.51^\circ \\y & = 2.51^\circ$

Which means that the bases of the two towers are $2.51^\circ$ apart.

## Review Questions

1. The intensity of a certain type of polarized light is given by the equation $I = I_0 \sin 2\theta \cos 2\theta$. Solve for $\theta$.
2. The following diagram represents the ends of a water trough. The ends are actually isosceles trapezoids, and the length of the trough from end-to-end is ten feet. Determine the maximum volume of the trough and the value of $\theta$ that maximizes that volume.
3. A boat is docked at the end of a 10 foot pier. The boat leaves the pier and drops anchor 230 feet away 3 feet straight out from shore (which is perpendicular to the pier). What was the bearing of the boat from a line drawn from the end of the pier through the foot of the pier?
4. The electric current in a certain circuit is given by $i = I_m[\sin(wt + \alpha) \cos \varphi + \cos(wt + \alpha) \sin \varphi]$ Solve for $t$.
5. Using the formula from Example 1, determine the measurement of the sun’s angle of inclination for a building located at a latitude of:
1. $64^\circ$ on the $16^{th}$ of November
2. $15^\circ$ on the $8^{th}$ of August
6. A ship leaves port and travels due east 15 nautical miles, then changes course to $N\ 20^\circ\ W$ and travels 40 more nautical miles. Find the bearing to the port of departure.
7. Find the maximum displacement for the simple harmonic motion described by $d = 4 \cos \pi t$.
8. The pilot of an airplane flying at an elevation of 10,000 feet sights two towers that are 500 feet apart. If the angle between the point directly below him and the base of the tower closer to him is $18^\circ$, determine the angle $y$ between the bases of the two towers.

## Date Created:

Feb 23, 2012

Jul 08, 2014
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