Question

The observation deck of the John Hancock Center is 1030 feet above the ground. The Skydeck of the Sears Tower is 1335 feet above the ground. The John Hancock Center is 1.7 miles from the Sears Tower. What is the angle of elevation of someone standing on the observation deck of the John Hancock Center looking up to the Skydeck of the Sears Tower?

Answer 1

1.946 degrees

Explanation:

Opposite = 1335 - 1030 = 305 feet

Adjacent = 1.7 miles or 8976

1 miles = 5280 feet

1 / 1.7 = 5280 / x, 5280(1.7) = 1, x = 8976

tan-1( 305 / 8976 ) = 1.946

The angle of elevation is 1.946 degrees

Answer 2

Angle of elevation is 88°

Explanation:

The distance between the two = 1.7 miles

= 8.97 ft.

The height of the skydeck = 305 ft

tanθ = 305/8.97

tanθ = 34

θ = 88°

The angle of elevation is 88°