Right Triangle Trigonometry

Word problems

SOH CAH TOA

CHO SHA CAO

Your calculator should be in DEGREE MODE

X = 10.03

y= 11.13

A surveyor is standing 50 feet from the base of a large tree. The surveyor measures the angle of elevation from where he stands to

the top of the tree as 71.5°. How tall is the tree?

71.5°

50 ft.

?opp

adj toa

h = 149.43ft

Spencer, in a park ranger’s observation station 50 feet above the ground, spots a fire in the forest. If the angle of depression from Spencer to the fire is 5, how far is the fire from the base of the station?

50ftCurran’s

observatory

FIRE

5°

? opp

adj

toa

X = 571.50ft