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Geometry/Basic Trig - Angle of Elevation Word Problem

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Question
You are skiing down a mountain with a vertical height of 1500 feet. The distance from the top of the mountain to the base is 3000 feet. What is the angle of elevation from the base to the top of the mountain?

Answer
Hi Jess!

Think of the mountain as a right triangle seen from the side.  The height is equal to 1500 and the hypotenuse is 3000.  The sin of the angle of elevation is equal to the opposite over the hypotenuse, so to solve for the angle:
< = arcsin(1500/3000)

This should give you a familiar number.

Thanks for asking,
Azeem

Geometry

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Azeem Hussain

Expertise

I can answer mostly any kind of question dealing with of Math 536 and below, my forte being in parabolic functions and analytical geometry.

Experience

Drop-in tutor at Champlain College since 2010. I am neither a professor nor a teacher of this subject. I am merely a student who is good at mathematics and enjoys being of service to his community. I frequently tutor people in math and the results are usually great.

Education/Credentials
Presently enrolled in Materials Engineering at McGill University. Diploma of Collegiate Studies; Pure and Applied Science, Champlain College Saint-Lambert. Diploma of Secondary Studies from Chambly Academy High School. Being a Quebecer, I am fluent in English and French and can respond to questions easily in both languages.

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