Question

Flagpole The world's tallest unsupported flagpole is a 282-ft-tall steel pole in

Surrey, British Columbia. The shortest shadow cast
by the pole during the year
is 137 ft long. To the nearest degree, what is the angle of elevation of the sun
when the shortest shadow is cast?

Answer 1

Check the picture below.

`tan(\theta )=\cfrac{\stackrel{opposite}{282}}{\underset{adjacent}{137}}\implies \theta =tan^(-1)\left( \cfrac{282}{137} \right)\implies \theta \approx 64^o`

Make sure your calculator is in Degree mode.