SOLUTION: A searchlight shines its beam on a cloud at an angle of elevation of 20º. A person standing 350 m from the searchlight sees the light on the cloud at an angle of 50º. Calculate

Question 1203107: A searchlight shines its beam on a cloud at an angle of elevation of 20º. A person standing 350 m from the searchlight sees the light on the cloud at an angle of 50º. Calculate the height of the cloud.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Draw the description. Using y as how high the cloud and x as how far the person from directly under the cloud on the ground, then this system can be made:

;
and you want to solve for the value of y.
Answer by ikleyn(52781)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
A searchlight shines its beam on a cloud at an angle of elevation of 20º. A person standing 350 m from
the searchlight sees the light on the cloud at an angle of 50º. Calculate the height of the cloud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As it is given in the post, the problem's formulation is INCOMPLETE:

it incompletely describes disposition of objects/subjects in 3D.

Since the problem is posed inaccurately, it CAN NOT be solved accurately.

            Penalty to the problem's composer.

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