When the angle of elevation of the sun is 61°, a telephone pole that is tilted at an angle of 8° directly away from the sun casts a shadow 20 feet long. Determine the length of the pole to the nearest foot.

Question

When the angle of elevation of the sun is 61°​, a telephone pole that is tilted at an angle of 8° directly away from the sun casts a shadow 20 feet long. Determine the length of the pole to the nearest foot.

I'm stuck halfway through this problem, I know how to find all the angles and side lengths of the triangle made when there isn't the 8 degree tilt, but I don't know how to solve the triangle with the 8 degree tilt. What's the next step in solving the triangle?

bobpursley · Answer

I assume you found the vertical height of the pole. length of pole/verticalheight=cos8

Scott · Answer

the angle at the base of the pole is ... 90º - 8º the angle at the end of the shadow is the sun's angle the 3rd angle is opposite the 20 ft shadow use the law of sines to find the pole

When the angle of elevation of the sun is 61°​, a telephone pole that is tilted at an angle of 8° directly away from the sun casts a shadow 20 feet long. Determine the length of the pole to the nearest foot.

When the angle of elevation of the sun is 61°, a telephone pole that is tilted at an angle of 8° directly away from the sun casts a shadow 20 feet long. Determine the length of the pole to the nearest foot.