You are here:

Advanced Math/Angle of Elevation

Advertisement

Expert: Robi Bhattacharjee - 9/22/2008


Question
Students are trying to determine the height of a tower. Mark is standing 7m away from Susan and measures the angle of elevation at 65 degrees. Susan is standing behind Mark and measures the angle of elevation at 56 degrees. How is the tower?

Answer
Hello Jeannie,

For this problem, you can set up two equations and have two variables. Let x be the height of the tower and y be the distance Mark is from the tower.

So x/y= tan 65

and x/(y+7) = tan 56

So if you divide these equations, you get y + 7 / y = tan 65 / tan 56.

So you can get y by solving that equation. Then you can find x by plugging it back in. Try doing what I said as an exercise. It will improve your understanding of this problem.



Robi

Advanced Math

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Robi Bhattacharjee

Expertise

I can answer a variety of questions on mathematics. Questions on trigonometry, calculus(preferably single variable), algebra, geometry, and number theory will be answered. I cannot answer questions on abstract branches of mathematics such as group theory. I also cannot answer questions on statistics. In number theory, I can answer questions on congruences, prime numbers, units, functions, and the riemann-zeta function.

Experience

I have studied advanced math my entire life. I started calculus in sixth grade. I have attended numerous math competitions and I am attending math organizations such as the San-Diego math circle. Also, this year I have been invited to the USAMO which is a prestigious math competition (Every year the USAMO invites 500 students from across the USA to participate in this competition. The top 6 go to represent the USA in the International Math Olympiad).

Organizations
I am in the San Diego Math Circle

Education/Credentials
I am entering high school and have received a perfect score and the STAR test 5 times in a row. I also have gotten recognitions in the AMC 10, AIME, Math Counts, and ARML. Additionally, I have won the San Diego Math Olimpiad twice in a row.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.