Question

a vertical pole 10 ft. tall casts a 14-foot shadow. what is the angle of elevation of the sun to the nearest degree?

Answer 1

Draw a right triangle.


`tan(theta) = (opposite)/(adjacent)`


`tan(theta) = (10)/(14)`

Arctangent (tan^-1) can be used to find theta.


`tan^(-1)((10)/(14))=theta`


`theta\ is\ approx\ \boxed{36\ degrees}`