By: Hunter Dawson Robert James Halle HendrixAnna Claire Pope

How Tall Is It?

March 8, 2011

30 Degree Triangle

3030

6060

Tan30 = X/17 17=L. Tan30 = X/17 17=L. LegLeg9.81+ 4.9 9.81+ 4.9 17/√317/√3= = S. LegS. Leg14.71 feet 314.71 feet 3 17 √3 17 √3 3 3 + 4.9ft+ 4.9ft

4.94.9feetfeet

17 feet17 feet

17√317√3------------------------ 33

17√317√3

----------- ----------- + 4.9 feet+ 4.9 feet 33

45 degree Triangle

4545

4545

5.58 5.58 feetfeet

11 feet11 feet

tan(45)= x/11 11 = Legtan(45)= x/11 11 = Leg11 + 5.58= Leg = 11 + 5.58= Leg = LegLeg16.58 ft. 16.58 ft. 11+5.58=11+5.58= 16.58 16.58 ft.ft.

60 degree triangle

6060

3030

5.24feet

8 feet

tan(60)=x/88+5.24=13.24 feet

55 degree triangle

555500

353500

4.83 4.83 feetfeet 10 feet10 feet

Tan 55= x/10 Tan 55= x/10 14.28+4.8314.28+4.8319.11 feet19.11 feet

Average Height:

During this project, our group learned that math can be used daily and is all around us. We used trigonometry and special right triangles to figure out the height of the light pole in the courtyard. We used a clinometer to figure out the angle(s) of the triangle. After we found the angle measusurements of the triangle, we were able to calculate a portion of the light pole. To find the other half of the light pole, we added our height

from our eyes to the portion of the pole we already figured out. Once we added these two measurements together, it gave us

the total height of the light pole.

Conclusion