Question

The angle of elevation from the tip of a flagpole's shadow to the top of the flagpole is 63 degrees. The length of the shadow is 12 feet. How tall is the flagpole to the nearest tenth of a foot? When entering your answer, do not include units.

Answer 1

The flagpole is 20 ft high

Step-by-step explanation:

• Step 1: This forms a right angle and can be solved using the trigonometric ratio tan. Given the angle of elevation is 63°, and the length of the shadow (adjacent side) is 12 ft, find the length of the flagpole (opposite side).

tan 63° = opposite side/adjacent side

⇒ Height of the pole = adjacent side × tan 63°

                                   = 12 tan 63° = 12 × 1.96 = 23.55 ft ≈ 20ft