AboutAzeem Hussain Expertise I can answer virtually any kind of question dealing with of Math 536 and below, my forte being in parabolic functions and analytical geometry.
I'm currently learning Linear Algebra, and cannot answer questions that deal with subject matter more advanced than that.
Experience I am neither a professor nor a teacher of this subject. I am merely a student who is gifted at mathematics and enjoys being of service to his community. I frequently tutor people in math and the results are usually great.
Publications Reflections, Riverside School Board (2005, 2006)
Education/Credentials Diploma of Secondary Studies from Chambly Academy High School, and IBO-MYP certificate as well. My lowest mark on a high school math final was 97%, peaking at 99% in 2006 and 2007 (second-highest Math 436 mark in the province). Being a Quebecer, I am fluent in English and French and can respond to questions easily in both languages.
Awards and Honors Pascal Math Competition, School Champion(2007)
Question Hey,
I'm a high school junior and I'm trying to figure out how to find the elevation of the sun by using the shadow of a meter stick and a protractor. My textbook has this certain method for doing it but I don't get how I can possibly use the protractor to measure the shadow's distance from the sun.
Help!
Oh and by the way, we haven't learned anything about inverse tangents(I was Googling and found that a lot of people used this to figure it out), so there HAS to be some way to solve it without using tangents.
Thanks in advance!
Bella S.
Answer Hi Bella,
The method I will explain to you uses an inverse tangent. Find some flat ground, and hold the metre stick perpendicular to it. Make a mark on the ground where the stick's shadow ends. (If you have the means, trace the shadow back to the metre stick. Then lay the metre stick down, while maintaining the right angle with the trace of its shadow. Connect the triangle on the ground.) If you have a protractor, measure the angle from the tip of the shadow to the tip of thee metre stick. This is the angle of elevation of the sun. If you don't have a protractor, and even if you do it's probably more precise like this, divide the metre stick's length by its shadow's length, and take the inverse tangent of that.
If you have a protractor and you don't want to use an inverse tangent, then measure the angle directly. I don't know of an accurate method that does not use an inverse tangent. Until you learn about inverse trigonometry, they're just buttons on your calculator. Don't be afraid of them. If you want, ask a follow-up and I'll explain the inverse tangent to you.
