How do you find the angle of elevation?

Question

If a 73.0-foot flagpole casts a shadow 51.0 feet long, what is the angle of elevation of the sun (to the nearest tenth of a degree)?

Answer 1

change in vert 73
change in horiz 51

73/51=1.431
inv tan 1.431 = 55.1 degrees

Answer 2

Use trig. Draw a right-angled triangle with 73 on the vertical side and 51 on the bottom. The angle of elevation goes up from the horizontal.

Then we use the all-powerful SOHCAHTOA! Write it down and tick off every O and A because we have opposite to the angle- 73 feet and the adjacent( the one that's not opposite or the hypotenuse) 51 feet. And we use the one with two ticks next to each other- T or tangent.

And lastly you use basic algebra skills and a calculator to work out the angle. I can't help you with the calculator, because all calculators are different. But you can follow what I've done below.

.....tanx = opp / adj
.............= 73 / 51
In this bit I pressed 2nd fuction, tan on my calculater
..........x = 55.061....
..........x = 55. 1 degrees (1dp)

And hey presto, yopu have your angle of elevation! Hope you understand my ramblings....

Answer 3

Let x = angle of elevation of the sun

tan x = 73 / 51

x = 55.06 degrees

Answer 4

It's the inverse tangent (arctan) of 73/51 = 55.060689795322970271377178101411 or 55.1°

Answer 5

x=angle of elevation of the sun
x=arc tan 73/51
x=55°03'38.4" or 55.1°

Answer 6

angle of elevation would b the angle made by hypotenuse with base(shadow in this case)

Answer 7

Girl, you need to get wise to the legend of SOHCAHTOA.

Once you do, most of your right-angle trig problems will be child's play for you.