Find the height of the pole?

Question

Two students are 180 feet apart on opposite sides of a pole. The angles of elevation from the students to the top of the pole are 35 degrees and 23 degrees. Find the height of the pole.

Answer 1

draw the trinagle, label all the available values and see if you have to use sin, cos, or tangent. i dont remember the equations so thats all i can help you with =)

Answer 2

I solved it this way: I made the pole ht. "x", the distance from the 23 degree angle to pole "y", and the distance from the 35 degree angle to pole "180-y"

tan 23 = x/y, tan 35 = x/(180-y)

(tan23)y = x = (tan35)(180-y)

0.424y = 126 - .700y

1.124y = 126

y = 112.1       180-y = 67.9

tan23 = x/112.1

(0.424)(112.1) = 47.5    pole ht

proof

tan35 = x/(180-y)

x = .700(67.9) = 47.5 feet pole ht.

ta-da......: )