calculate tangent

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Its been a while since classes in trigonometry, I am calculating the height of rockets. I know that the formula is (distance from base) * Tangent(angle of rocket height). The trick is I will not be in a place where there will be a calculator. How can I do this manually?

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Similar triangles. Point a stick at the apogee of the rocket. The ratio of the height of the tip of the stick to the base distance along a level is the same as the ration of the height of the apogee to the level base distance of the apogee. Then it is a matter of a multiplication and a division which you should be able to do without a calculator.

It was a school exercise a long time ago to measure the heights of trees this way. It is also the basis of surveying.

Hope this helps.

Ced