A flagpole casts a shadow 16.60 meters long Tim stands at a distance of 12.45 meters from the base of the flagpole such that the
end of tims shadow meets the end of the flagpoles shadow of tim is 1.65 meters tall determine and state the height of the flagpole to the nearest tenth of a meter
This problem is solely on right triangles, wherein the Pythagorean theorem may be applied. We must first find the angle of elevation of the flagpole using Tim's height and the difference between the shadow of the flagpole and Tim's distance from the flagpole. Therefore tan a = 1.65/(16.6-12.5) where a=21.68 degrees. We use this angle to determine the height of the flagpole. tan 21.68 = x/ 16.6 where x=height of flagpole=6.6 meters.
