monument of washigton

Question

The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall. The monument is composed of a 500 foot pillar topped by a 55 foot pyramid. The base of the pillar is 55 feet wide. The base of the pyramid is 34 feet wide. Approximate the slope of the sides of the pillar and the slope of the pyramid.

Answer 1

We can determine the points necessary to compute the slopes.  Choose (0,0) to be the bottom edge of the pillar.  Then the side will reach the base of the pyramid (55-34)/2 feet from the origin when it rises 500 feet.

 

 

(0,0) to (10.5,500) for the pillar.  The slope is m = 500/10.5 = 47.6.

 

 

 

(10.5,500) to (27.5,555) for the pyramid.  The slope is m = 55/17 = 3.24.