Alicia L.
asked • 03/08/20Pre Calc Question
A straight road makes an angle of 14° with the horizontal. When the angle of elevation, B, of the sun is 58°, a vertical pole beside the road casts a shadow 8 feet long parallel to the road. Approximate the length of the pole. Round answer to two decimal places.
More
1 Expert Answer
If I understand the question (and Mark M.'s question leaves that open to debate!!!), then I think the answer is 8 tan 44 + 8 tan 14.
Draw a figure!
Mark M.
By what method did you arrive at that expression?
Report
03/09/20
Paul M.
tutor
It is difficult to communicate without a figure! This is what I did, but looking at it again I am not sure it is right.
Draw a 14 degree angle with bottom leg horizontal.
Draw a vertical line on the upper leg and the line of sunlight through the top of that vertical. With that figure, my answer should be simple to see. However, I am now uncertain about the vertical line; maybe it should be perpendicular to the upper leg of the angle and that would change the answer.
Report
03/09/20
Edward A.
The sun is so far away, isn’t the angle of elevation of the sun equal all over your picture? On the ground, on top of the pole. Wlog, it could be at the base of the pole. Dont you think so?
Report
03/10/20
Edward A.
Silly me! The road is sloping! In the complete absence of guidance, we could assume that the sun is to the right, and the road climbs to the right. Although as Mark points out, neither of these is certain, and Greatly different answers result. So I guess I would draw Paul’s picture with a) a point, the tip of the shadow and, beginning at the point, b) a ray, horizontal to the right c) a ray rising to the right at an angle of 14 degrees from horizontal; this is the roadbed and adjacent ground d) a ray rising to the right at 58 degrees from horizontal reaching the (point-sized) Sun Finally, e) the pole, vertical, rising from a point on the road (ray c) 8 feet from the point (a), measured along the road, ending on the line to the sun (ray d). (Oops I forget that comments remove any line feeds, sorry) at any rate, I suspect Paul’s looks similar. But I’m with Mark, I doubt the 8 is so convenient, as it should naturally be measured along the road, rather than along the horizontal.
Report
03/10/20
Still looking for help? Get the right answer, fast.
Ask a question for free
Get a free answer to a quick problem.
Most questions answered within 4 hours.
OR
Find an Online Tutor Now
Choose an expert and meet online. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need.
Mark M.
At which point is the angle of elevation of the sun determined?03/08/20