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di.com/student/practice/678a8aa25b97dcb88cd3be41/class/66cf07a4da0259e398c043ad/uta/678f94d0e86d82059e550b6d/itemid/678a. g. Ratios) BOOKMARK 4 Q + \( \square \) BLAKE SINRAM 16 Kurt spots a bird sitting at the top of a 40ft tall telephone pole. If the angle of elevation from the ground where he is standing to the bird is \( 59^{\circ} \), how many feet is Kurt from the base of the pole?

Ask by Mann Riley. in the United States
Jan 21,2025

Real Tutor Solution

Tutor-Verified Answer

Answer

Kurt is approximately 24.1 feet from the base of the telephone pole.

Solution

To determine how far Kurt is from the base of the telephone pole, we can use trigonometry, specifically the tangent function. **Given:** - Height of the telephone pole (opposite side): 40 feet - Angle of elevation: \(59^\circ\) **Objective:** Find the horizontal distance from Kurt to the base of the pole (adjacent side), denoted as \(x\). **Using the Tangent Function:** The tangent of an angle in a right triangle is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side. \[ \tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}} \] Plugging in the known values: \[ \tan(59^\circ) = \frac{40}{x} \] Solving for \(x\): \[ x = \frac{40}{\tan(59^\circ)} \] **Calculating the Value:** 1. Find \(\tan(59^\circ)\): \[ \tan(59^\circ) \approx 1.6643 \] 2. Divide 40 by the tangent of 59 degrees: \[ x = \frac{40}{1.6643} \approx 24.06 \text{ feet} \] **Conclusion:** Kurt is approximately **24.1 feet** away from the base of the telephone pole. **Answer:** Kurt is approximately 24.1 feet from the base of the telephone pole.

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The Deep Dive

To find out how far Kurt is from the base of the pole, we can use trigonometric ratios, specifically the tangent function. The tangent of the angle of elevation (\(59^{\circ}\)) is equal to the opposite side (the height of the pole: 40 ft) divided by the adjacent side (the distance from Kurt to the pole). So, we use the formula: \[ \tan(59^{\circ}) = \frac{40}{d} \] Rearranging to solve for \(d\) (the distance from the pole): \[ d = \frac{40}{\tan(59^{\circ})} \] Calculating, you will find that Kurt is approximately 21.6 feet away from the base of the pole. Now, isn’t it fascinating how angles and distances come together through trigonometry? In real-world scenarios like these, this math allows us to find heights without ever having to climb! How cool is that?

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