How can I apply trigonometric functions to real-life problems?

Occupations like construction and engineering rely on trigonometry. In a situation where NASA wants to eject a plane into outer space, they need tho calculate what angle will give them the maximum force needed to leave the Earth's gravitational field. In construction the angle and length of certain pieces affect the finish product of what is being constructed. For example the roof of a building. It is also used in cartography (the creation of maps). Cartographer measure the angle of inclination or depression to indicate the distance between levels in the topography of a landscape.

Example: you can use trigonometry to find the length or angle of something without having to use a really long tape measure or a giant protractor. For example, you can calculate the height of a tree by knowing how far away you're standing from it and the angle from the ground to the tree top, which makes life a lot easier. I hope this helps :).

e.g. I'm standing 1m away from a tree and the angle of inclination is 60°. by using tan x = opposite/adjacent, tan 60 = √3, so the height of the tree is √3 m, which is approximately 1.73m.