Question

you are skiing down a mountain with a vertical height of 2900 feet. the distance from the top of the mountain to the base is 5800 feet. to the nearest degree, what is the angle elevation from the base to the top of the mountain?

Answer 1

Answer: When doing a problem like this I always draw an example so I can see it. If you do that you see a right triangle with the hypothenuse, 2500 feet, is the distance from the top to the base. The opposite side is 1250 feet. Then remember sine= o/h, (opposite side over hypothenuse). So divide 1250/2500 and you get .5 Now take your calculator and use "inv" or sin-1 button to get the answer of the angle. x = 30

sinθ 1250/2500 = 1/2; θ = sin-1(1/2) = 30°

Explanation:

Answer 2

30°

Explanation:

You want the angle of elevation to a point 2900 feet up that is 5800 feet distant on a straight line.

Sine

The sine of the angle is the ratio of the height to the straight-line distance.

sin(θ) = h/d = 2900/5800 = 1/2

θ = arcsin(1/2) = 30°

The angle of elevation is 30° from the base to the top.