*Approximate the angle of elevation of the sun if a box 5 meters tall casts a shadow 4 meters long on level ground. *As a weather ballon rises vertically its angle of elevation from a point P on the level ground 110km.from the point Q directly underneath the ballon changes from 19degrees 20 minutes to 31 degrees 50 minutes.Approximate how far does the ballon rises during the period.

Question

*Approximate the angle of elevation of the sun if a box 5 meters tall casts a shadow 4 meters long on level ground.                                            *As a weather ballon rises vertically its angle of elevation from a point P on the level ground 110km.from the point Q directly underneath the ballon changes from 19degrees 20 minutes to 31 degrees 50 minutes.Approximate how far does the ballon rises during the period.

Steve · Answer

No spherical trig here. The balloon problem might have qualified, but it says "level ground."

(a) tanθ = 5/4
(b) review your tangent function. If the balloon travels a distance d, then

d = 110 tan31°50' - 110 tan19°20'