Right triangle at a house corner: At a point 15 m from the base of a 15 m high house on level ground, what is the angle of elevation of the top of the house?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 45°

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Equal opposite and adjacent sides in a right triangle imply a 45° angle of elevation by the tangent definition.


Given Data / Assumptions:
Height = 15 m; horizontal distance = 15 m; level ground; vertical wall.


Concept / Approach:
tan θ = opposite/adjacent = 15/15 = 1 → θ = 45°.


Step-by-Step Solution:

tan θ = 1 → θ = 45°.


Verification / Alternative check:
Pythagoras gives hypotenuse 15√2; this corresponds to an isosceles right triangle.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
30° or 60° would require unequal legs; 90° is impossible for a finite distance.


Common Pitfalls:
Using sine instead of tangent; confusing angle at the top vs at the observer.


Final Answer:
45°

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