Question

You are standing 60 feet from the base of a 20-foot tall flagpole. What is 1

Answer 1

Answer: The angle of elevation is 18.4 degrees (Approximately)

Step-by-step explanation: Please refer to the picture attached for more details.

The pole from top to  bottom is 20 feet tall and is depicted as line FB. An observer is standing at a distance of 20 feet from the base of the pole, and that is depicted as line BA. The observer who is at point A looks up to the top of the flagpole at an angle of elevation shown as angle A.

Using angle A as the reference angle, line FB which is 20 feet would be the opposite (facing the reference angle), while line BA which is 60 feet would be the adjacent (that lies between the right angle and the reference angle).

Therefore, to calculate angle A;

Tan A = Opposite/Adjacent

Tan A = 20/60

Tan A = 1/3

Tan A = 0.3333

Checking with your calculator or table of values,

A = 18.4349°

Rounded to the nearest tenth,

A ≈ 18.4°