document.write( "Question 843477: My daughter is having a problem with a math question, wondering if you could help me so I can help her. The problem is - a wall 2 metres high and 60 metres long stands in a vertical plane running east to west. Calculate the width and area of the shadow cast by the wall, on level ground when the sun is due north at an elevation of 40°47'. Thank you \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #508154 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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The problem is - a wall 2 metres high and 60 metres long stands in a vertical plane running east to west.
\n" ); document.write( "Calculate the width and area of the shadow cast by the wall, on level ground when the sun is due north at an elevation of 40°47'.
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "convert 47': 47/60 = .78, + 40 = 40.78 degrees
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "A straight line from a point on the ground at the edge of the shadow, to the
\n" ); document.write( "top of fence, to the sun, is an angle of 40.78 degrees
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "The side opposite the angle is the fence which we know to be 2 meters high
\n" ); document.write( "Use the tangent of the angle to find the distance (x) to fence
\n" ); document.write( "tan(40.78) = $\"2%2Fx\"$
\n" ); document.write( ".86267x = 2
\n" ); document.write( "x = $\"2%2F.86267\"$
\n" ); document.write( "x = 2.3 meters is the width of the shadow
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "2.3 * 60 = 139 sq/m is the area of the shadow
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