Question

a vertical pole 10 ft. tall casts a 14-foot shadow. what is the angle of elevation of the sun to the nearest degree?

Answer 1

Draw a right triangle.

$tan(theta) = \frac{opposite}{adjacent}$

$tan(theta) = \frac{10}{14}$

Arctangent (tan^-1) can be used to find theta.

$tan^{-1}(\frac{10}{14})=theta$

$theta\ is\ approx\ \boxed{36\ degrees}$