Answer:
<em>The angle of elevation of the sun is 32°</em>
Step-by-step explanation:
<u>Right Triangles</u>
The flagpole and the ground form a right angle (90°). In triangles with right angles, the trigonometric ratios are satisfied.
Each acute angle has an adjacent leg and an opposite leg. The tangent ratio relates to both legs.
The opposite leg to angle x is 20 ft and the adjacent leg is 32 ft, thus:
Calculate x by using the inverse tangent:
The angle of elevation of the sun is 32°
Given:
The three lengths in the options.
To find:
Which three lengths could be the lengths of the sides of a triangle?
Solution:
If the sum of two smaller sides is greater than the largest side, then the three sides can form a triangle otherwise the triangle is not possible.
In option A, the three sides are 4 cm, 8 cm, 13 cm. Here, the largest side is 13 cm.
Sum of two smaller sides is:
So, the triangle is not possible.
In option B, the three sides are 13 cm, 11 cm, 23 cm. Here, the largest side is 23 cm.
Sum of two smaller sides is:
So, the triangle is possible.
In option C, the three sides are 5 cm, 18 cm, 12 cm. Here, the largest side is 18 cm.
Sum of two smaller sides is:
So, the triangle is not possible.
In option D, the three sides are 25 cm, 8 cm, 16 cm. Here, the largest side is 25 cm.
Sum of two smaller sides is:
So, the triangle is not possible.
Therefore, the correct option is B. The three lengths 13 cm, 11 cm, 23 cm could be the lengths of the sides of a triangle.