SOLUTION: A flagpole is 50 feet from a point on the ground. The angle of depression from the top of the flagpole to the same point on the ground is 40°. Calculate the height of the flagpole

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Question 253298: A flagpole is 50 feet from a point on the ground. The angle of depression from the top of the flagpole to the same point on the ground is 40°. Calculate the height of the flagpole to the nearest foot.
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This situation can be represented by a right triangle whose height (h) represents that of the flag pole and whose base is the distance from the base of the pole to the point on the ground which is 50 feet from the base.
The angle of depression from the top of the pole to the the point on the ground is, of course, equal to the angle of elevation from the point on the ground to the top of the pole and this is given as 40 degrees.
Using the tangent function, you can write:
Tan%2840%29+=+h%2F50 Solve for h.
h+=+50%2ATan%2840%29
h+=+41.95feet. Rounded to the nearest foot, we have:
highlight%28h+=+42%29feet.