A cat lies crouched on level ground 50 feet away from the base of a tree. The cat can see a bird's nest directly above the base of the tree. The angle of elevation from the cat to the bird's nest is 40°. To the nearest foot, how far above the base of the tree is the bird's nest?
A)32
B)38
C)42
D)60
E)65

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the tangent function, tan(40°) = height/50. Solving for height gives approximately 42 feet.

A Cat Lies Crouched on Level Ground 50 Feet Away