You are skiing down a mountain with a vertical height of 1245 feet. The distance from the top of the mountain to the base of the mountain is 2490 feet. What is the angle of elevation from the base to the top of the mountain? Express your answer as a whole angle. degrees

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### Calculating the Angle of Elevation

**Problem Statement:**
You are skiing down a mountain with a vertical height of 1245 feet. The distance from the top of the mountain to the base of the mountain is 2490 feet. What is the angle of elevation from the base to the top of the mountain? Express your answer as a whole angle.

**Solution:**
To solve this problem, we need to calculate the angle of elevation, which is the angle formed between the horizontal ground at the base and the line of sight to the top of the mountain.

The angle of elevation can be found using trigonometric functions, particularly the sine function in this case since the vertical height (opposite side) and the hypotenuse are given. However, using tangent might be more straightforward since:

\[
\tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}
\]

Here, the 'opposite' side is the vertical height of the mountain (1245 feet), and the 'adjacent' side is the distance from the base of the mountain to the top (2490 feet).

\[
\tan(\theta) = \frac{1245}{2490}
\]

We can calculate \(\theta\) by taking the arctan (inverse tangent) of both sides:

\[
\theta = \arctan\left(\frac{1245}{2490}\right)
\]

Calculating the value using a calculator:

\[
\theta \approx \arctan(0.5)
\]

This simplifies to approximately:

\[
\theta \approx 26.57^\circ
\]

Rounding to the nearest whole number, the angle of elevation is:

**Answer:**
\[ 27 \, \text{degrees} \]

**Note:**
The above problem can be visualized using a right-angled triangle, where the height of the mountain forms the perpendicular side (opposite), the diagonal path from the base to the top of the mountain forms the hypotenuse, and the horizontal ground forms the base (adjacent).

**Interactive Element**: 
- Try calculating the angle of elevation using different values of vertical height and distance to enhance your understanding of trigonometric functions.
- Visualize the right-angled triangle using an interactive graph tool for a better grasp of the trigonometric ratios involved. 

Please enter the calculated angle of elevation in the box:
Transcribed Image Text:### Calculating the Angle of Elevation **Problem Statement:** You are skiing down a mountain with a vertical height of 1245 feet. The distance from the top of the mountain to the base of the mountain is 2490 feet. What is the angle of elevation from the base to the top of the mountain? Express your answer as a whole angle. **Solution:** To solve this problem, we need to calculate the angle of elevation, which is the angle formed between the horizontal ground at the base and the line of sight to the top of the mountain. The angle of elevation can be found using trigonometric functions, particularly the sine function in this case since the vertical height (opposite side) and the hypotenuse are given. However, using tangent might be more straightforward since: \[ \tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}} \] Here, the 'opposite' side is the vertical height of the mountain (1245 feet), and the 'adjacent' side is the distance from the base of the mountain to the top (2490 feet). \[ \tan(\theta) = \frac{1245}{2490} \] We can calculate \(\theta\) by taking the arctan (inverse tangent) of both sides: \[ \theta = \arctan\left(\frac{1245}{2490}\right) \] Calculating the value using a calculator: \[ \theta \approx \arctan(0.5) \] This simplifies to approximately: \[ \theta \approx 26.57^\circ \] Rounding to the nearest whole number, the angle of elevation is: **Answer:** \[ 27 \, \text{degrees} \] **Note:** The above problem can be visualized using a right-angled triangle, where the height of the mountain forms the perpendicular side (opposite), the diagonal path from the base to the top of the mountain forms the hypotenuse, and the horizontal ground forms the base (adjacent). **Interactive Element**: - Try calculating the angle of elevation using different values of vertical height and distance to enhance your understanding of trigonometric functions. - Visualize the right-angled triangle using an interactive graph tool for a better grasp of the trigonometric ratios involved. Please enter the calculated angle of elevation in the box:
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