Question

there is a boat approaching a lighthouse the light at the top of the lighthouse is a hundred yards above the shoreline a sailor on the boat is able to see the light in estimate it to be about a hundred and eighty yards away the sailors eye line is 2 yards above the sea water. highlight the angle of elevation that is most accurate based on the estimation that the sailor gave

Answer 1

Since it is a right triangle, we can apply trigonometric functions:

Tan a = opposite side / adjacent side

Where:

a= angle = x

Opposite side = 98

Adjacent side = 180

Replacing:

Tan x = 98/180

Solve for x

x = arc tan (98/180)

x= 28.57°