Question

For Exercises 1 and 2, write and solve an equation to find each missing length. Round to the nearest tenth if necessary. An observer is standing 30 feet from a flagpole. She is looking at the top of the flagpole. How tall is the flagpole? Round to the nearest tenth if necessary.

Answer 1

21.65 feets

Explanation:

First we obtain the angle of elevation :

Using Pythagoras rule :

Cosθ = adjacent / hypotenus

Cos θ = 30 / 37

θ = cos^-1(30/37)

θ = 35.82°

Hence, height of flagpole :

Sin θ = opposite / hypotenus

Sin θ = x / 37

Sin(35.82) = x / 37

0.5853083 * 37 = x

x = 21.65 feets

Height of flagpole = 21.65 feets