Question

Johnny is looking out a window and sees a chipmunk at an angle of depression of 60 degrees. If the window is 22 feet up the side of the building, then how far is the chipmunk from the base of the building? A) tan60degrees=x/22 B) tan60degrees = 22/x C) cos60degrees= 22/x D) cos60degrees = x/22

Answer 1

Answer: Tan 60 = 22/x

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming Johnny's line of sight is a straight line, then a right angle triangle is formed. The distance of the chipmunk from the base of the building represents the adjacent side of the right angle triangle. The distance,x of the window from the ground represents the opposite side of the right angle triangle.

If the angle of depression to the chipmunk is 60°, then the angle of elevation of him from the chipmunk would also be 60° they are alternate angles.

To determine x, we would apply

the tangent trigonometric ratio.

Tan θ, = opposite side/adjacent side. Therefore,

Tan 60 = 22/x