Angle of Elevation?

Question

What is the easiest method for solving angle of elevation questions?

Answer 1

Each elevation question is different, but you will probably use trigonometry every time. For a given angle of elevation t, you will have an inclined length s, a horizontal length x, and a vertical height y. They are related as follows:

sin(t) = y/s
cos(t) = x/s
tan(t) = y/x

So if you are given x and y and told to find t, you know that tan(t) = y/x, which you can calculate, and therefore t = arctan(y/x).