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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from Emily, a student: A man 2m high observes the angle of elevation to the top of the building to be 70 degrees. And the angle of depression to the bottom of the building to be 19 degrees. How tall is the building? |
If you construct a right triangle with angle at his eye, right angle straight in front of him on building, and third angle on ground, opposite side is how long?
Tangent = opposite / adjacent. What's the adjacent side (horizontal distance to building)?
Now construct another triangle with the third angle at the top of the building.
Tangent = opposite / adjacent, What's the opposite side?
What's the total height?
Good hunting!
RD
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