Question

The angle of elevation to the top of a skyscraper is measured to be 2 degrees from a point on the ground 1 mile from the building. How tall is the skyscraper?

Answer 1

Answer:

0.034921 miles or 1843774 feet tall

Step-by-step explanation:

Using trigonometric functions we know that $x=rcos(\theta)$ and $y=rsin(\theta)$ where $\theta$=angle and r is the hypotenuse of the triangle.

First we will calculate the hypotenuse using the x equation, since we know x = 1 mile (distance from the building on the ground) we have:

$x=rcos(\theta)\\\\1=rcos(2)\\\\r=\frac{1}{cos(2)} \approx. 1.0061mi$

Now we will calculate the height of the building using the y equation and so:

$y=rsin(\theta)\\\\y=\frac{1}{cos(2)} \times sin(2) = \frac{sin(2)}{cos(2)}=tan(2)=0.034921mi$

The building is 0.034921 miles or approximately 184.3774 feet tall.