4. A tree casts a shadow of 15ft. The angle of elevation from the tip of the shadow to the top of the tree is 70 degrees. To the nearest foot, what is the height of the tree?

Question

4.	A tree casts a shadow of 15ft.  The angle of elevation from the tip of the shadow to the top of the tree is 70 degrees.  To the nearest foot, what is the height of the tree?

shane_b · Answer

A great start would be for you to draw a picture here...can you do that?

anonymous · Answer

|dw:1363385892064:dw|
it's not amazing but yeah lol I think that's right :3 @Shane_B

shane_b · Answer

Yep, looks good.  So what trig function do you think you could use to solve for the height on the left?

anonymous · Answer

that's where I get confused :/ I thought it was tan but I don't think that's right

shane_b · Answer

The simplest way to do this would indeed be to use the tan function.  

$$tan(\Theta)=\frac{opp}{adj}$$$$tan(70)=\frac{opp}{15}$$Rearrange things to get{$$opp=15tan(70)$$

anonymous · Answer

So it would be 41?!

shane_b · Answer

Yep...it rounds to 41 anyway

anonymous · Answer

Ok thank you so much! Could you help me with another one?!

shane_b · Answer

If I can't someone will :)