Subjects trigonometry

Skyscraper Height F16E00

Step-by-step solutions with LaTeX - clean, fast, and student-friendly.

Use the AI math solver

1. **Problem statement:** From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation to a skyscraper 500 metres away is 15°. 2. **Formula and rules:** To find the height $h$ of the skyscraper, we use the tangent function in a right triangle: $$\tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} = \frac{h}{500}$$ where $\theta = 15^\circ$ and adjacent side is 500 m. 3. **Calculate height:** $$h = 500 \times \tan(15^\circ)$$ 4. **Evaluate $\tan(15^\circ)$:** Using a calculator or table, $\tan(15^\circ) \approx 0.2679$ 5. **Calculate $h$:** $$h = 500 \times 0.2679 = 133.95$$ 6. **Interpretation:** The height of the skyscraper is approximately 134 metres. 7. **Scale drawing:** Using a scale of 1 cm to 50 m, the skyscraper height on the drawing is: $$\frac{134}{50} = 2.68 \text{ cm}$$ The horizontal distance is: $$\frac{500}{50} = 10 \text{ cm}$$ **Final answer:** The height of the skyscraper is approximately **134 metres**.