Question

A ladder leans against a building. The angle of elevation of the ladder is 70°. The top of the ladder is 25 ft from the ground.

To the nearest tenth of a foot, how far from the building is the base of the ladder?

Answer 1

if we call the distance you are looking for \(x\) then you know \[\tan(70)=\frac{25}{x}\] and so
\[x=\frac{25}{\tan(70)}\] and a calculator to solve

Answer 2

20.5?