SOLUTION: Two stations due south of a leaning tower which leans towards north are at distance a and b from its foot. If x and y are the elevation of the top of the tower from these stat

Question 1088961: Two stations due south of a leaning tower which leans towards north
are at distance a and b from its foot. If x and y are the elevation
of the top of the tower from these stations . Prove that its angle of
inclination z to the horizontal is given by cotz = (bcotx - acoty) / (b-a)
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20065) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!



The drawing below has NORTH to the right and SOUTH to the left.



We look at the triangles separately
Triangle PQS:

     


Similarly for triangle PRS

 

We set the two expressions for PS equal to each other:













Divide both sides by sin(x)sin(y)sin(z)









Divide both sides by b-a



Edwin

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