Here is the question:
If the angle of elevation of the sun is 63.4 degrees when a building casts a shadow of 37.5 feet, what is the height of the building?
the person who explains how to do the problem will get best answer
2007-08-30 07:45:36 · 4 answers · asked by L J 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The vertical height of the building is x.
The horizontal length of the shadow is 37.5.
The angle which is opposite the building and adjacent to the shadow is 63.4 deg.
The tangent of an angle is opp/adj.
Therefore, tan(63.4)=x/37.5
So, x=37.5*tan(63.4)
x=74.89 ft.
2007-08-30 07:56:07 · answer #1 · answered by Not Eddie Money 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a right triangle with the building as one leg and the shadow as the other leg. So you must know that
tan(angle) = height of building (h) divided by length of shadow(37.5ft).
or
tan(63.4) = h/37.5ft
or
h = 37.5*tan(63.4) =74.885...
2007-08-30 14:59:41 · answer #2 · answered by tfloto 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tan x = Opposite / Adjacent
x=angle of elevation
Opposite = height of building
Adjacent = length of shadow
tan 63.4 = O / 37.5
1.997 = O /37.5
O = 74.89 feet
2007-08-30 14:55:15 · answer #3 · answered by darin2z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Draw a right traingle; label the horizontal side 37.5 and the angle as 63.4 degrees.
tan(a) = vertical side/horizontal side, so restate this as
vertical side = tan(a) * horizontal side = tan (63.4) * 37.5.
2007-08-30 14:51:48 · answer #4 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋