Math Problem Statement
Assuming that a 370 -foot tall giant redwood grows vertically, if I walk a certain distance from the tree and measure the angle of elevation to the top of the tree to be 39° , how far from the base of the tree am I?
Round your answer to four decimal places.
I am about
Number
feet away from the base of the tree.
Solution
To solve this problem, we can use trigonometry. Specifically, we can apply the tangent function, since it relates the opposite side (height of the tree) and the adjacent side (distance from the tree) to the angle of elevation.
The formula we will use is:
Where:
- is the angle of elevation.
- The opposite side is the height of the tree, which is 370 feet.
- The adjacent side is the distance from the base of the tree, which we need to find.
Rearranging the formula to solve for the adjacent side (distance from the tree):
Substitute the known values:
Now, calculating this:
Thus, you are approximately 457.3511 feet away from the base of the tree.
Would you like more details on how to solve it step-by-step? Or do you have other questions related to this?
Related Questions:
- How do I calculate the angle of elevation if I know the distance from the tree and the height?
- What is the difference between tangent and other trigonometric functions like sine and cosine?
- Can this method be used for other real-world problems like measuring buildings or mountains?
- How does the angle of elevation change if I move further away or closer to the tree?
- What is the role of a calculator in solving trigonometric problems like this?
Tip: Always double-check your angle units. Make sure your calculator is set to the correct mode (degrees in this case).
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Trigonometry
Tangent Function
Right Triangles
Formulas
tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent
adjacent = opposite/tan(θ)
Theorems
Tangent function in right triangles
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12
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