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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from Grail, a student: at a certain point the angle of elevation of the top of a flagpole which stands on a level ground is 35 degree. 75 ft. nearer the pole, the angle of elevation is 50 degree. How high is the pole |
Hi Grail,
The key here is to draw a diagram.
There are two right triangles here.
What trig function relates h, d and the angle with measure 50 degrees? This gives you an equation involving d and h.
What trig function relates h, d + 75 and the angle with measure 35 degrees? This gives you another equation involving d and h.
Solve the equations for h.
Penny
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