Question

From a point on the ground 12 ft from the base of a flagpole, the angle of elevation of the top of the pole

measures 53º. How tall is the flagpole?

Answer 1

Height of flagpole is 15.9 feet

Solution:

Given that,

From a point on the ground 12 ft from the base of a flagpole, the angle of elevation of the top of the pole measures 53º

To find: height of flagpole

The figure is attached below

BC = distance between point and base of flagpole = 12

AB = height of flagpole = ?

By defintion of tan,

`tan\ 53 = (AB)/(BC)`

`tan\ 53 = (AB)/(12)\\\\AB = tan\ 53 * 12\\\\AB = 1.327044 * 12\\\\AB = 15.9245\\\\AB \approx 15.9`

Thus height of flagpole is 15.9 feet