document.write( "Question 1177411: Suppose that you are headed toward a plateau 40m high. If the angle of elevation to the top of the plateau is 20º, how far are you from the base of the plateau? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #806366 by ikleyn(52803) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "Let x be the distance to the plateau.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Then we have  \r\n" );
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document.write( "    tan(20°) = .\r\n" );
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document.write( "But  tan(20°) = 0.3638;  therefore\r\n" );
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document.write( "    40/x = 0.3638\r\n" );
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document.write( "which implies\r\n" );
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document.write( "    x = 40/0.3638 =  109.96 meters = 110 meters (rounded).    ANSWER\r\n" );
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