Final answer:
To determine the distance from the person to the base of a 50 ft high building with a 41-degree angle of elevation, we use the tangent function.
By solving the equation distance = 50 ft / tangent(41 degrees), we calculate that the person is approximately 57.51 feet away from the base of the building.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using trigonometry, we will use the tangent function, which relates an angle of a right triangle to the ratio of the opposite side (the height of the building) to the adjacent side (the distance from the person to the building).
We have tangent (angle) = opposite/adjacent, so tangent (41 degrees) = 50 ft / distance form the base.
To find the distance, we rearrange the equation:
distance from the base = 50 ft / tangent(41 degrees).
Using a calculator, we find that tangent(41 degrees) ≈ 0.8693.
So the distance from the base ≈ 50 ft / 0.8693
≈ 57.51 ft.
Therefore, the person is approximately 57.51 feet away from the base of the building.