A flagpole stands on a sloping hillside.

Question

A flagpole stands on a sloping hillside. The flag slands straight up and down, NOT perpendicular to the hillside). The angle of elevation of the hill is 32 degrees. The shadow of the flagpole extends 13 feet straight down the hill. The angle of elevation from the tip (end) of the shadow to the sun is 73 degrees. How tall is the flagpole?

Answer 1

This is a law of sines problem. Make a triangle with the top of the flagpole, the end of the shadow and the base of the flagpole. The angle at the top is 17 degrees. The angle where the flagpole meets the ground is 122 degrees. So the third angle is 41 degrees. Law of sines is ratio of sides = ratio of sines of opposite angles. x/13 = sin 41/sin 17; x = 29.

Answer 2

See the videa.