trig. function word problem: statue in piazza in Rome

[zachstorm]

Patty is on a piazza in Rome, studying a tall statue. The base of the statue is level with Pams eyes. Pam measures the angle from horizontal to the top of the statue to be 49 degrees. After moving 7 feet closer to the statue, she measures again and finds the angle to be 55 degrees. How tall is the statue?

Please help I don't understand how to find the entire height without more info.

 

[galactus]

Re: Help with trig. function word problem!?

Draw a picture?.

Build two equations from the given data.

Can you see it. You will have two equations with two unknowns, x and y.

Here's one:

\(\displaystyle tan(35)=\frac{x}{y}\)

 

[zachstorm]

Re: Help with trig. function word problem!?

Thank you! I used the law of sines to figure out that the statue is 41.399 feet.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

By the way, this is the method that is used to find the height of a mountain (peaks) - without actually climbing it.