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A radio tower is 200 feet tall. How far is an observer from the base of the tower if the angle of their line of sight hrom the ground to the top of the tower is \( 65^{\circ} \) ? Round to the nearest hundredth. (t point)

Ask by Ayala Reed. in the United States
Jan 23,2025

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Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

The observer is approximately 93.17 feet from the base of the tower.

Solution

To determine how far the observer is from the base of the 200-foot-tall radio tower with an angle of elevation of \( 65^{\circ} \), we can use trigonometry, specifically the tangent function. **Step-by-Step Solution:** 1. **Understand the Right Triangle:** - **Opposite Side (Height of the Tower):** 200 feet - **Angle of Elevation:** \( 65^{\circ} \) - **Adjacent Side (Distance from Observer to Base):** \( x \) (what we're trying to find) 2. **Use the Tangent Function:** \[ \tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}} \] Plugging in the known values: \[ \tan(65^{\circ}) = \frac{200}{x} \] 3. **Solve for \( x \):** \[ x = \frac{200}{\tan(65^{\circ})} \] 4. **Calculate \( \tan(65^{\circ}) \):** \[ \tan(65^{\circ}) \approx 2.1445 \] 5. **Compute the Distance:** \[ x \approx \frac{200}{2.1445} \approx 93.17 \text{ feet} \] **Final Answer:** The observer is approximately **93.17 feet** from the base of the tower.

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To find the distance from the observer to the base of the tower, you can use the tangent function in trigonometry. The height of the tower (200 feet) is the opposite side, and the distance from the observer to the base of the tower is the adjacent side. The formula related to tangent is: \[ \tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} \] Plugging in the values: \[ \tan(65^{\circ}) = \frac{200}{d} \] Solving for \(d\): \[ d = \frac{200}{\tan(65^{\circ})} \approx \frac{200}{2.1445} \approx 93.20 \text{ feet} \] So, the observer is approximately 93.20 feet from the base of the tower. Also, it's always good to double-check your calculator settings. Make sure it's in degree mode when you're working with angles expressed in degrees! A common error in problems like this is using radian mode by mistake, leading to incorrect calculations.

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