WPP #12: Unit O Concept 10: solving angle of elevation and depression word problems

Introduction: The PETCO across from Jose's bakery. 

Problem: The PETCO across from Jose's bakery

Jose is standing atop his bakery looking out towards the PETCO across the street that he often visits to buy neat things for his dog Simba. The street between the two buildings is 12 meters long. He looks down at the entrance to see a customer walking in with a dog that reminds him of Simba. He looks down at an angle of depression of 38°, this makes him wonder how tall PETCO is from his level of elevation. He then looks up at an angle of elevation of 34°, staring directly at the top of PETCO. How tall is PETCO from the height of his building and what is the total height of PETCO?

Solution: The PETCO from across Jose's bakery

PART 1 ANSWER: First we solve for how tall PETCO is from his level of elevation: tan38=x/12. in order to solve for x, we must multiply the entire problem by 12 then solve, which equals 8.09.

PART 2 ANSWER: then we solve for the rest of the building's height: tan34=x/12. to solve for x, we must also multiply the entire problem by 12 then solve, equaling 9.38. 

So to get the total height of PETCO, we must add the two distances of 8.09 meters and 9.38 meters, equaling 17.47 meters.