Module 7: Lesson 2 | MoodleHUB 🎓

1. Module 7

1.6. Lesson 2

Mathematics 10-3 Module 7 Lesson 2

Module 7: Trigonometry

Lesson 2: Using Tangents to Solve Problems

Focus

This is a photograph of the Mayan temple of Kukulkan at Chichen-Itza, on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

The Mayan pyramid of Kukulkan, at Chichen-Itza on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, is a UNESCO world heritage site. The pyramid was built over a thousand years ago, and its architecture is a mix of both art and mathematics. The temple faces the four directions, representing the seasons. The 91 steps on each side and the platform at the top total 365—the number of days in the year.

The temple is famous for the shadows that slowly ascend and descend the staircases during the spring and fall equinoxes. These shadows represent mythical feathered snakes with their stone-carved heads at the bottom of the stairs. The shadows also signal the time to plant and harvest the crops.

Did you know that the stairs on each face are inclined at 45° to the horizontal? During this lesson you will see how this bit of information and knowledge of the tangent ratio can help you find the height of this pyramid.

Lesson Questions

In this lesson you will explore this question:

How is the tangent ratio used to solve a variety of practical problems?

Assessment

You will complete the Lesson 2 Assignment Booklet for assessment. Download the Lesson 2 Assignment Booklet and save it in your course folder now. You will receive instructions on how to complete the Assignment Booklet later in the lesson. You will also be prompted to start working on the Unit 3 Project.

Remember to save all activities, including those that are not part of the Assignment, in your course folder.

Required Materials and Equipment

You will need your clinometer, a measuring tape, and your calculator.