Find the length of the unknown side round your answer to the nearest tenth

answer:  

step-by-step explanation:

here x represents the height of the pole,

and, the height of the shadow of the pole is 12 feet.

also, the angle of elevation from the top of the pole is 40°,

therefore,

by the low of sine,

which is the required equation for finding the value of x,

this is answer of 144 cubic meters

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4