A tree on a hillside casts a shadow c = 210 ft down the hill. If the angle of inclination of the hillside is b = 21° to the horizontal and the angle of elevation of the sun is a = 51°, find the height of the tree. (Round your answer to the nearest foot.)


________ft

1 answer

Draw a diagram.
T = top of tree
S = tip of shadow
B = base of tree
Draw a line L horizontally from the tip of the shadow.
Drop a vertical from the tree base to intersect line L at P.

Let
x = SP
y = PB
h = BT (height of tree)

y = 210 sin21°
x^2+y^2 = 210^2
(y+h)/x = tan51°

I get h=166.847