Question

A person is standing 40 ft from a light post and can see the top of the light at a 35∘ angle of elevation. The person’s eye level is 5

feet from the ground. What is the height of the light post to the nearest foot.



The height of the light post is____ feet?

Answer 1

Height of light post = 33 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

We will use the trigonometric ratios to find the height of light post

The given scenario forms a right angled triangle with the right angle with the light post.

The distance between light post and the person is the base.

So, base = b = 40 feet

The height of light post will be the perpendicular

So,

Perpendicular = p = x

Angle = 35°

So,

tan (angle) = p/b

tan 35° = p/40

0.7002 =p/40

0.7002*40 = p

p = 28 feet

Since the persons eye level is 5 feet from the ground, 5 feet will be added to perpendicular for actual height of light post.

Height of light post = 28+5 = 33 feet ..