Question

A tree casts a 16-foot-long shadow on level ground. A forestry student uses a clinometer to determine that the sun is at a 70° angle of elevation.

What is the height of the tree to the nearest whole foot?

Use the on-screen keyboard to enter the number in the box below.

Answer 1

Tree is
`43.84` feet tall

Explanation:

Shadow casted by tree
`= 15` feet

Angle of elevation of sun
`= 70` degrees

Tangent of angle of elevation is equal to the ration of height of tree and its shadow

tan
`70 = (t)/(16)`

Height of the tree is equal to
`16 *` tan
`70`

Height of the tree
`= 16 * 2.74 = 43.84` feet