document.write( "Question 192724: From the edge of a 1000 ft. cliff, the angles of depression to two cars in the valley below are 21° and 28°. How far apart are the cars? Round your answers to the nearest 0.1 ft. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #144647 by RAY100(1637) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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the angle of depression means the angle between a horizontal line and the sight line.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In this case the sight line is from the top of the cliff to the car position.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The triangle formed would be a right triangle, the hypotenuse the sight line, the vertical leg the height of the cliff, and the horizontal leg the distance from the cliff.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "in one instance the angle of 28 degrees is between the sight line and the horizontal line representing the ground. The trig function tan would = height of the cliff divided by the horizontal distance from cliff.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "tan 28 = 1000/x\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x= 1000/ tan 28 =1880.726\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "likewise the other case finds tan 21= 1000/y, y=1000/tan21=2605.089\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the difference in distance from cliff = 2605.089-1880.726 = 724.363 =724.4 \n" ); document.write( "

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