SOLUTION: A suspension bridge has two main towers of equal height. A visitor on a tour ship approaching the bridge estimates that the angle of elevation to one of the towers is 19 degrees.

Question 1008621: A suspension bridge has two main towers of equal height. A visitor on a tour ship approaching the bridge estimates that the angle of elevation to one of the towers is 19 degrees. After sailing 404 ft closer he estimates the angle of elevation to the same tower to be 49 degrees. Approximate the height of the tower.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39628) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Description of the picture:
Horizontal segment; draw a vertical segment at the right-hand endpoint, and call this length, y, for height of the tower. Show a point on the horizontal segment and label from this point to the base of the tower, the right hand endpoint of the horizontal segment, length t. The other length along the horizontal segment is length 404 feet (which begins at the left endpoint of the horizontal segment.)
Angle of elevation from left endpoint to top of the vertical segment is 19 degrees. The other angle is 49 degrees.

Interpret the diagram and formulate the system

Solve for t in terms of y from the 49 equation and substitute into the 19 equation...
several algebra steps...

RELATED QUESTIONS
the golden gate bridge has two main towers of equal height that support the two main... (answered by KMST)

center oA suspension bridge has twin towers that are 1300 feet apart. Each tower extends... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

a cable of a suspension bridge is suspended between two towers that are 1500 m apart and... (answered by ikleyn)

In a suspension bridge the shape of the suspension cables is parabolic. The bridge shown (answered by lwsshak3)

The main cables of a suspension bridge are ideally parabolic. The cables over a bridge... (answered by stanbon)

A suspension bridge has two supporting towers and cables secured at either end of the... (answered by ikleyn)

a roadway on a suspension bridge is held up by cables that are parabolic in shape. If the (answered by KMST)

t he center of a suspension bridge forms a parabolic arc. The cable is suspended from... (answered by Alan3354)

A suspension bridge with weight uniformly distributed along its length has twin towers... (answered by stanbon)