A bricklayer is building a large base for a sign. She uses 6 blocks for the top layer and each layer requires 8 more blocks than the layer above it. The bottom layer has 102 bricks. How many layers are there in the sign base? Describe an equation-based method to answer the bricklayer question.

Describe a pictorial- or manipulative-based method to answer the bricklayer question.

The formula used will be:

tan 42° = y/115

Step-by-step explanation:

Lets simplify the the question.

We have a boat which is situated at 115 meters away from a light house. It forms the base of the right angled triangle.

We need to find the distance from the bottom of the light house to the top of the light house. This distance is the height of the lighthouse, which forms the perpendicular side of the right angled triangle.

The distance between boat and top of the lighthouse is unknown, it forms the hypotenuse.

The angle of elevation, which is the angle between base and hypotenuse, is given as 42°.

The right angled formed is shown below.

We know that

tanθ = Perpendicular / Base

tan42 = height / 115

If height= y

tan 42° = y/115

Solve for y.

y = 103.55 meters