Question

Bob is standing on top of Buckskin Pass (near Aspen) and is looking down at Snowmass Lake. An inclinometer shows that the angle of depression to the lake is 5.1°. If the elevation of Buckskin Pass is 12,462 feet and the elevation of Snowmass Lake is 10,980, determine the length of the slope down to the lake.

Answer 1

I will first sketch the problem then solve

Below is the sketch of the problem in other to give a clearer understanding

Let x be the length of the slope down to the lake

Using the trigonometric ratio

cos θ = adjacent/hypotenuse

cos 5.1 = 12 462 / x

x = 12 462 / cos 5.1

x = 12 511. 53