Trig Right angles

Question

I dont understand this

 

On one side of a tree a 42 degree angle of elevation is recorded. On the opposite side of the tree, a 25 degree angle of elevation is recorded. The two angle measurements we taken 55 m apart. calculate the height of the tree to the nearest tenth of a meter.

Answer 1

Draw and label a diagram.

A is the vertex of the 42° angle

B is the vertex of the 25° angle

C is the base of the tree

h represents the height of the tree

AC = x

CB = 55 - x

tan 42° = h / x

tan 25° = h / (55 - x)

Solve for x.

Then calculate h.