Question

select the correct answer from each drop - down menu. a conical circus tent has a 20 ft central pole that supports it. the slant height of the tent is 26 ft long. explain how to find the angle the tent pole makes with the sides of the tent. the central pole forms a right triangle with the floor of the tent. the cosine of the missing angle is the ratio of the length of the central pole to the length of the side of the tent, which is. applying, we find that the angle the tent pole makes with the sides of the tent is °.

Explanation:

Step1: Identify adjacent/hypotenuse

Adjacent to angle: $20$ ft, Hypotenuse: $26$ ft

Step2: Calculate cosine ratio

$\cos(\theta) = \frac{20}{26} \approx 0.77$

Step3: Find inverse cosine

$\theta = \cos^{-1}(0.77) \approx 39^\circ$

Answer:

The cosine of the missing angle is the ratio of the length of the central pole to the length of the side of the tent, which is $\boldsymbol{0.77}$. Applying $\boldsymbol{\text{inverse cosine}}$, we find that the angle the tent pole makes with the sides of the tent is $\boldsymbol{39^\circ}$.