32.4k views
4 votes
Trignometry Question Please help

Trignometry Question Please help-example-1
User Dahianna
by
4.8k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

19.45°

Explanation:

Suppose the post is 1 unit high. Then the distance from the post to another corner of the rectangle will satisfy the relation ...

distance/1 = tan(90° -angle of elevation)

So, for the near corner, the distance from the post is ...

distance = tan(90° -36°) = tan(54°) = 1.37638 . . . post lengths

For the other given corner, the distance from the post is ...

distance = tan(90° -22°) = tan(68°) = 2.47509 . . . post lengths

The Pythagorean theorem can be used to find the distance from the post to the diagonally opposite corner:

distance^2 = 1.37638^2 +2.47509^2 = 8.02048

distance = √8.02048 ≈ 2.83205

The relation of this to the angle of elevation is ...

tan(angle of elevation) = 1/2.83205

angle of elevation = arctan(1/2.83205) ≈ 19.45°

_____

In the attached diagram, we have used segments BP and CP as surrogates for the post, so we could determine distances PD and PE that are the sides of the rectangular courtyard. Then the courtyard diagonal is PF. Using PA as a surrogate for the post, we found the angle of elevation from F to A (the top of the post) to be 19.45°, as computed above.

Trignometry Question Please help-example-1
User Zhang Buzz
by
4.9k points