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Emma is standing 20 yards from a billboard as shown. The bottom of the billboard (B) is 6 yards above the ground, and the top (T) is 10 yards above the ground. What elevation angles might Emma use in order to read messages on the billboard? Select all that apply.

Emma is standing 20 yards from a billboard as shown. The bottom of the billboard (B-example-1
User Deepbrook
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1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

Most reasonable: 16°, 20° and 22°

If Emma is very short, 25°

Explanation:

This is trigonometry using Tangent and arc-tan

Tan=opp/adj

The length of the adjacent is 20 yards. The opposite lengths given are the bottom, 6 yards and the top, 10 yards. Assuming Emma is of average height, it seems reasonable to subtract about 1.7 to 1.9 yards, the distance of her eyes above ground level, for accuracy. But that may not be necessary, given the range of angles.

I subtracted 1.8, about 5'6"

Calculating tangent from the top:

8.2/20 = .41. arc-tan .41= 22.3°

tangent for the bottom:

4.2/20= .21 arc-tan .21 = 11.8°

If you are using a scientific calculator, once you have the ratio of the opp to adj in decimal form, use the tan- key then the decimal to convert to degrees.

User Yallie
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