Question

An observer at the top of a 532 foot cliff measures the angle of depression from the top of the cliff to a point on the ground to be 4 degrees. What is the distance from the base of the cliff to the point on the ground? Round to the nearest foot.

Answer 1

Answer:

Distance from the base of the cliff to the point on the ground = 7608 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

Given: Height of the cliff is 532 feet, angle of depression from the top of the cliff to a point on the ground is equal to 4 degrees.

To find: distance from the base of the cliff to the point on the ground

Solution:

In ΔABC,

$\angle ACB=4^{\circ}$  (Alternate interior angles)

For any angle $\theta$, $\tan \theta =$ side opposite to angle/side adjacent to angle

$\tan C=\frac{AB}{BC}$

Put $AB=532\,,\,\angle C=4^{\circ}$

$\tan 4^{\circ}=\frac{532}{BC}\\\\BC=\frac{532}{\tan 4^{\circ}}\\\\=7607.95\\\\\approx 7608\,\,feet$

Distance from the base of the cliff to the point on the ground = 7608 feet

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