Given:
Length of escalator = 26 ft
Angle of depression = 41 degrees
To find:
The horizontal distance x the escalator covers to the nearest tenth of a foot.
Solution:
In a right angle triangle,
[tex]\cos \theta=\dfrac{Base}{Hypotenuse}[/tex]
Using this formula for the given triangle, we get
[tex]\cos 41^\circ=\dfrac{x}{26}[/tex]
[tex]26\cos 41^\circ=x[/tex]
[tex]26(0.7547)=x[/tex]
[tex]19.6222=x[/tex]
Round the value to the nearest tenth.
[tex]x\approx 19.6[/tex]
Therefore, the escalator covers 19.6 ft horizontally.
