SOLUTION: jeffs eyes are 180 centimeters above the ground. He is looking up at the top of a building on an angle of elevation of 38˚. He i standing 20 meters from the building. How tall

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: jeffs eyes are 180 centimeters above the ground. He is looking up at the top of a building on an angle of elevation of 38˚. He i standing 20 meters from the building. How tall      Log On


   

Question 891916: jeffs eyes are 180 centimeters above the ground. He is looking up at the top of a building on an angle of elevation of 38˚. He i standing 20 meters from the building. How tall is the building? Answer in meters
Answer by josgarithmetic(39625) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


The two bottom corner angles are both 90 degrees. The angle at the upper right corner is the complement of the angle of elevation, so that is 90-38=52 degrees.

The segment on the right side of the triangle is the difference between building height and Jeff's height. Call this y, and then y+1.8 is building height. You first want to get y.

y%2F20=tan%2838%29
y=20%2Atan%2838%29
The building's height is highlight%281.8%2B20%2Atan%2838%29%29.