SOLUTION: A student stands at a point due west of a flag pole and finds the angle of elevation is 25 degrees. Another student stands due east of the same flag pole and finds the angle of ele

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: A student stands at a point due west of a flag pole and finds the angle of elevation is 25 degrees. Another student stands due east of the same flag pole and finds the angle of ele      Log On


   

Question 1187933: A student stands at a point due west of a flag pole and finds the angle of elevation is 25 degrees. Another student stands due east of the same flag pole and finds the angle of elevation to be 30 degrees. If the students are standing 50 m apart from each other,find the height of the flag pole.
Answer by ikleyn(52787) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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A student stands at a point due west of a flag pole and finds the angle of elevation is 25 degrees.
Another student stands due east of the same flag pole and finds the angle of elevation to be 30 degrees.
If the students are standing 50 m apart from each other, find the height of the flag pole.
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Let h be the height of the flag pole, in meters.


Then the first student's distance from the flagpole is  h%2Ftan%2825%5Eo%29  meters.


The second student's distance from the flagpole is  h%2Ftan%2830%5Eo%29  meters.


Write the total distance equation between the students


    h%2Ftan%2825%5Eo%29 + h%2Ftan%2830%5Eo%29 = 50 meters.


From this equation, express and calculate h


    h = 50%2F%281%2Ftan%2825%5Eo%29+%2B+1%2Ftan%2830%5E0%29%29 = 50%2F%281%2F0.4663+%2B+1%2F0.5774%29 = 12.898 meters.    ANSWER


I packed all my calculations in one line, and used an Internet calculator to get values of the tan function of given arguments.

Solved.

I am glad to notice that your post is/was prepared in a perfectly accurate way.