Scarlett is trying to find the height of a dam. She stands 90 meters away from the dam and records the angle of elevation to the top of the dam to be 26º.

Scarlett's height is 1.65 meters, so the height of the dam is

Question

Scarlett is trying to find the height of a dam. She stands 90 meters away from the dam and records the angle of elevation to the top of the dam to be 26º.




Scarlett's height is 1.65 meters, so the height of the dam is

anonymous · Answer

help please

anonymous · Answer

|dw:1439257182092:dw|

anonymous · Answer

this is why tangent was invented btw
you have 
$$\frac{x}{90}=\tan(26)$$ so 
$$x=90\times \tan(26)$$

anonymous · Answer

use a calculator, then add $1.65$

anonymous · Answer

I still don't understand

anonymous · Answer

tangent is "opposite over adjacent" right?

anonymous · Answer

you are told the "adjacent' it is 90m
you are looking for the "opposite" the height

anonymous · Answer

multiply 90*26

anonymous · Answer

no dear  not by 26, but rather by the tangent of 26

anonymous · Answer

$$x=90\times \tan(26)$$ you need a calculator for this

anonymous · Answer

43.8

anonymous · Answer

i get $43.9$ rounded 
then don't forget to add her height

anonymous · Answer

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=90tan%2826%29