Math Problem Statement
An ecologist wishes to find the height of a redwood tree that is on the other side of a creek, as shown in the figure below. From point A he finds that the angle of elevation to the top of the tree is 12.7°. He then walks 24.8 feet at a right angle from point A to point B. There he finds that the angle between AB and a line extending from B to the tree is 85.4°. What is the height h of the tree? (Round your answer to one decimal place.) h =
Incorrect: Your answer is incorrect. ft
Solution
To solve this problem, we need to use trigonometry. The scenario described involves a right triangle, and the tree's height is the vertical leg of that triangle. We are given the following information:
- From point A, the angle of elevation to the top of the tree is .
- From point B, the angle between the line AB and the line extending to the tree is .
- The distance between points A and B is 24.8 feet.
Step 1: Determine the distance from point B to the tree.
We first focus on triangle , where:
- feet,
- , and
- .
To find the distance (from point B to the tree), we can use the law of sines: Substitute the known values: Solve for :
Step 2: Calculate the height of the tree.
Now that we know , we can calculate the height of the tree using the angle of elevation from point B and the tangent function. The height of the tree is: Solve for :
Let’s calculate this step-by-step.The height of the tree is approximately feet.
Would you like more details on the calculation or have any further questions? Here are 5 related questions that expand on this topic:
- How is the law of sines used in non-right triangles?
- How does the angle of elevation relate to tangent in right triangles?
- How can we determine the height of an object using two different points?
- What are the assumptions when using trigonometry in real-world applications?
- How would the solution change if the angles were measured in radians?
Tip: When using trigonometry, always check if your calculator is set to the correct mode (degrees or radians) based on the given angles.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Trigonometry
Law of Sines
Angle of Elevation
Right Triangles
Formulas
Law of Sines: (AB/sin(angle BAT)) = (BT/sin(angle ABT))
Tangent function: tan(angle) = height / distance
Theorems
Law of Sines
Tangent Function
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 10-12
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