Finding the Height of the Kite

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 28 views

Introduction

Gabriella is flying a kite on a beautiful sunny day. As she runs across the field, the kite soars high in the sky, its string stretching out behind it. The string is 80 feet long, and the angle of inclination to the ground is a remarkable 62 degrees. As we watch Gabriella and her kite, we are reminded of the beauty and complexity of mathematics. In this article, we will use the formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ to explore the relationship between the string, the angle, and the height of the kite.

The Problem

We are given the length of the string (80 feet) and the angle of inclination (62 degrees). We want to find the height of the kite above the ground. To do this, we will use the formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ , which is a fundamental concept in trigonometry.

The Formula

The formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ is a fundamental concept in trigonometry. It states that the ratio of the sine of an angle to the length of the side opposite the angle is equal to the ratio of the sine of another angle to the length of the side opposite that angle. In this case, we have:

\frac{\sin (62^{\circ})}{80}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}

Solving for B

To solve for B, we can use the fact that the sine of an angle is equal to the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse. In this case, we have:

\sin (B)=\frac{b}{c}

Substituting this into the formula, we get:

\frac{\sin (62^{\circ})}{80}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}

Solving for B, we get:

B=\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{\sin (62^{\circ})}{80}\right)

Solving for C

To solve for C, we can use the fact that the sine of an angle is equal to the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse. In this case, we have:

\sin (C)=\frac{c}{a}

Substituting this into the formula, we get:

\frac{\sin (62^{\circ})}{80}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}

Solving for C, we get:

C=\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{\sin (62^{\circ})}{80}\right)

Finding the Height of the Kite

Now that we have solved for B and C, we can find the height of the kite above the ground. The height of the kite is equal to the length of the string times the sine of the angle of inclination:

h=80\sin (62^{\circ})

Using a calculator, we can find the value of h:

h=80\sin (62^{\circ})=64.3\text{ feet}

Conclusion

In this article, we used the formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ to explore the relationship between the string, the angle, and the height of the kite. We solved for B and C, and then used the values of B and C to find the height of the kite above the ground. The height of the kite is 64.3 feet.

Real-World Applications

The formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ has many real-world applications. For example, it can be used to find the height of a building or a bridge, or to calculate the distance between two points on a map. It can also be used in physics and engineering to calculate the trajectory of a projectile or the stress on a structure.

Future Research

There are many areas of research that are related to the formula $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ . For example, researchers are working on developing new algorithms for solving trigonometric equations, and on applying the formula to new areas of science and engineering. Additionally, researchers are working on developing new mathematical models for describing the behavior of complex systems, and on applying the formula to these models.

References

[1] "Trigonometry" by Michael Corral
[2] "Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists" by Donald R. Hill
[3] "Calculus" by Michael Spivak

Glossary

Trigonometry: The branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and angles of triangles.
Sine: A trigonometric function that is defined as the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse.
Cosine: A trigonometric function that is defined as the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse.
Tangent: A trigonometric function that is defined as the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side.
Hypotenuse: The side of a right triangle that is opposite the right angle.
Opposite side: The side of a right triangle that is opposite a given angle.
Adjacent side: The side of a right triangle that is adjacent to a given angle.
Gabriella is Flying a Kite: A Q&A Session =====================================================

Q: What is the formula used to solve this problem?

A: The formula used to solve this problem is $\frac{\sin (A)}{a}=\frac{\sin (B)}{b}=\frac{\sin (C)}{c}$ . This formula is a fundamental concept in trigonometry and is used to relate the angles and sides of a triangle.

Q: What is the significance of the angle of inclination?

A: The angle of inclination is the angle between the string and the ground. In this problem, the angle of inclination is 62 degrees. This angle is used to calculate the height of the kite above the ground.

Q: How is the height of the kite calculated?

A: The height of the kite is calculated using the formula $h=80\sin (62^{\circ})$ . This formula uses the length of the string (80 feet) and the angle of inclination (62 degrees) to calculate the height of the kite above the ground.

Q: What is the value of the height of the kite?

A: The value of the height of the kite is 64.3 feet. This is calculated using the formula $h=80\sin (62^{\circ})$ .

Q: What are some real-world applications of this formula?

A: This formula has many real-world applications. For example, it can be used to find the height of a building or a bridge, or to calculate the distance between two points on a map. It can also be used in physics and engineering to calculate the trajectory of a projectile or the stress on a structure.

Q: What are some areas of research related to this formula?

A: There are many areas of research related to this formula. For example, researchers are working on developing new algorithms for solving trigonometric equations, and on applying the formula to new areas of science and engineering. Additionally, researchers are working on developing new mathematical models for describing the behavior of complex systems, and on applying the formula to these models.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using this formula?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using this formula include:

Not using the correct units for the length of the string and the angle of inclination.
Not using the correct formula for calculating the height of the kite.
Not checking the units of the answer to ensure that they are correct.

Q: How can I apply this formula to my own life?

A: This formula can be applied to many areas of life, including:

Calculating the height of a building or a bridge.
Calculating the distance between two points on a map.
Calculating the trajectory of a projectile or the stress on a structure.
Solving trigonometric equations.

Q: What are some resources for learning more about this formula?

A: Some resources for learning more about this formula include:

"Trigonometry" by Michael Corral
"Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists" by Donald R. Hill
"Calculus" by Michael Spivak

Q: What are some common misconceptions about this formula?

A: Some common misconceptions about this formula include:

Thinking that the formula is only used for calculating the height of a kite.
Thinking that the formula is only used in physics and engineering.
Thinking that the formula is only used for solving trigonometric equations.

Q: How can I use this formula to solve other problems?

A: This formula can be used to solve many other problems, including:

Calculating the height of a building or a bridge.
Calculating the distance between two points on a map.
Calculating the trajectory of a projectile or the stress on a structure.
Solving trigonometric equations.

Q: What are some tips for using this formula effectively?

A: Some tips for using this formula effectively include:

Making sure to use the correct units for the length of the string and the angle of inclination.
Making sure to use the correct formula for calculating the height of the kite.
Checking the units of the answer to ensure that they are correct.
Using a calculator to simplify the calculations.