Right Triangle/Tangent Question

asissa

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There are several problems in the textbook (all even questions, so no answer to judge by) with no example given and I am at loss as to how to answer. I would appreciate some guidance as to how to start, or the direction I need to go in. If I get one answered, I can do the rest! We have only just covered 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 triangles and tan. Here is the question:

When the sun is shining at a 62 degree angle of elevation, a flagpole forms a shadow of length x feet. Later, the sun shines at an angle of 45 degrees, and the shadow is 16 feet longer than before. Write two expressions for the height h of the flagpole in terms of x. How tall is the flagpole, round to nearest tenth.

Okay, part one, I've got: h= (16 + x)(tan 45 degrees) and h= x (tan 62 degrees)
Part two is where my brain freezes! Don't I need at least one length to do this? Do I make the two h's equal to each other? Do I solve for each triangle? If I do the second, I end up with x's, h's and y's!

Any guidance would be appreciated. Brain needs a jog after summer vacation!
 

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h= (16 + x)(tan 45 degrees) and h= x (tan 62 degrees)
Do I make the two h's equal to each other?

Yes, the two h’s are equal – the height of the flagpole is constant. Therefore,

(16 + x)(tan 45 degrees) = x (tan 62 degrees)

Solve for x. Then solve for h.
 
Okay, so:

(16 + x)(tan 45)= x(tan 62)
(16 + x)(1)=x(1.9)
(16 +x)=1.9x
16=1.9x -x
16/1.9=x - x/1.9
17.8=x - x/1.9
??
What am I doing wrong?
 
asissa said:
Okay, so:

(16 + x)(tan 45)= x(tan 62)
(16 + x)(1)=x(1.9)
(16 +x)=1.9x
16=1.9x -x
16/1.9=x - x/1.9
17.8=x - x/1.9
??
What am I doing wrong?

You are correct to here.....

16 + x = 1.9x

Now, it looks like you are subtracting x from both sides....remember that "x" means "1x".....

16 + 1x - 1x = 1.9x - 1x
16 = 1.9x - 1x

And here is where your mistake occurs! You do not divide both sides of this equation by ANYTHING at this point. You have like terms that can be combined.....1.9x - 1x

16 = 0.9x

NOW divide both sides of the equation by 0.9....see if that gives you a "better" result.
 
Slapping myself! Duh! Thank you!!
so, with x=17.8
h=(16+x)(tan 45)
h = (16 + 17.8) (1)
h= 33.8


Thank you both very much . . . onto the others in the book! I appreciate it.
 
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