Question 121392This question is from textbook elementary and imtermediate algebra
: Betty observed that the lamp post in front of her house cast a shadow of length 8 feet when the angle of inclination of the sun is 60 degrees. How tall is the lamp post? ( in a 30-60-90 right triangle, the side opposite 30 is one half the length of the hypotenuse.)
This question is from textbook elementary and imtermediate algebra
Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Betty observed that the lamp post in front of her house cast a shadow of length 8 feet when the angle of inclination of the sun is 60 degrees. How tall is the lamp post? ( in a 30-60-90 right triangle, the side opposite 30 is one half the length of the hypotenuse.)
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Draw the picture: a right triangle with height = lamp post of length "x",
and base = shadow of length 8 ft, and angle opposite "x" = 60 degrees.
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EQUATION:
tan(60) = x/8
x = 8tan(60)
x = 13.86 ft.
Cheers,
Stan H.
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