Question

Find the angle of elevation of the sun if a building 100 feet tall casts ashadow 90 feet long. Round to the nearest degree.

Answer 1

Let us give a pictorial view of the question.

Where

`\theta\text{ is the angle of elevation}`
`\begin{gathered} \tan \theta=(opposite)/(adjacent) \\ \tan \theta=(100)/(90) \end{gathered}`
`\begin{gathered} \tan \theta=1.1111 \\ \theta=\tan ^(-1)(1.1111) \\ \theta=48.013^o \\ \theta=48^o(to\text{ the nearest degree)} \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the angle of elevation is 48 degrees.