Question

The length of a flagpole is 12cm. A student stands 50 m from the foot of the flagpole. What is the measure of the angle of elevation from the ground to the top of the flagpole

Answer 1

The angle of elevation is 13.5 degrees approximately

Solution:

Given that , The length of a flagpole is 12cm

A student stands 50 m from the foot of the flagpole

Now, we have to observe that, above situation forms a right angle triangle with base 50 m and height of 12 m.

Then, we can apply,

`\tan \theta=\frac{\text {opposite side}}{\text {adjacent side}}`

where
`\theta` is angle of elevation and opposite side is height and adjacent side becomes base

`\begin{array}{l}{\text { So, } \tan \theta=(12)/(50)} \\\\ {\theta=\tan ^(-1)\left((12)/(50)\right)} \\\\ {\theta=13.495}\end{array}`

Hence, the angle of elevation is 13.5 degrees approximately.