Question

To find the height of a pole, a surveyor moves 140 feet away from the base of the pole and then, with a transit 4 feet tall, measures the angle of elevation to the top of the pole to be 44mc009-1.jpg. To the nearest foot, what is the height of the pole?

Answer 1

Tan(44) = X/140 (X is the height of the pole prior to adding the 4 foot stand)

X = Tan(44) (140)

X = about 135

Add the remaining 4 from the stand

About 139 feet. (<- Your Answer)

Which makes sense considering a 45-45 triangle has same side lengths, and 44 is very close to 45, therefore the pole length will be very similar to the distance the person walked.