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

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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) About Me  (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:

system%28tan%2820%29=y%2F%28x%2B350%29%2Cand%2Ctan%2850%29=y%2Fx%29;
and you want to solve for the value of y.

Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (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.
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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.