Question

The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a point on the ground 30 m from its base is 60°. Find the height of the tower. (Use √3 = 1.732.)

Solution

1. The tower, the ground, and the line of sight form a right triangle. Let the height be h.
2. tan 60° = height / distance = h / 30.
3. Since tan 60° = √3, h = 30√3.
4. h = 30 x 1.732 = 51.96 m, which is about 52 m.