After a wind storm, a farmer notices that his 36-foot windmill may be leaning, but he is not sure. From a point on the ground 32 feet from the base of the windmill, he finds that the angle of elevation to the top of the windmill is 49°. Is the windmill leaning? If so, what is the acute angle the windmill makes with the ground?

Question

After a wind storm, a farmer notices that his 36-foot windmill may be leaning, but he is not sure. From a point on the ground 32 feet from the base of the windmill, he finds that the angle of elevation to the top of the windmill is 49°. Is the windmill leaning? If so, what is the acute angle the windmill makes with the ground? ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angle of elevation to the top of the windmill is 49°, so the angle between the windmill and the ground is 90° - 49° = 41°. Since the windmill is leaning, the acute angle it makes with the ground is 41°.

After a Wind Storm, a Farmer Notices That His 36-Foot