Problema Solution

From a point A on a line from the base of the Washington Monumentˏ

the angle of elevation to the top of the monument is 42.0 degrees.

From a point 100 feet away and on the same lineˏ

the angle to the top is 37.8 degrees.

Find the approximate height of the Washington Monument.

Answer provided by our tutors

make good drawing and use the trigonometry functions


let


x = the distance from point A to the monument

x + 100 = the distance from point 100 ft away on the same line

h = the height of the monument


x = h/(tan (42))


x + 100 = h/(tan (37.8))


plug x = h/(tan (42)) into the last equation


h/(tan (42)) + 100 = h/(tan (37.8))


h*(1/tan(37.8) - 1/tan(42)) = 100


by solving we find


h = 559.97 ft


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the approximate height of the Washington Monument is 559.97 feet.