SOLUTION: The distance in miles that can be seen on the surface of the ocean is given by d = 1.4sqrt h where h is the height above the surface of the water. How many feet high above the wate

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: The distance in miles that can be seen on the surface of the ocean is given by d = 1.4sqrt h where h is the height above the surface of the water. How many feet high above the wate      Log On


   

Question 171978This question is from textbook Introductory Algebra
: The distance in miles that can be seen on the surface of the ocean is given by d = 1.4sqrt h where h is the height above the surface of the water. How many feet high above the water (to the nearest tenth) would a pirate have to climb to see 16 miles? This question is from textbook Introductory Algebra

Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The above scenario forms a Right Triangle.
Let's see:

By Pyth Theorem:
16%5E2=h%5E2%2B%281.4sqrt%28h%29%29%5E2
256=h%5E2%2B1.96h ---->h%5E2%2B1.96h-256=0
By Quadratic, where --->system%28a=1%2Cb=1.96%2Cc=-256%29
x=%28-1.96%2B-sqrt%281.96%5E2-4%281%29%28-256%29%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29

2 Values:
x=%28-1.96%2B32.02%29%2F2=30.10%2F2=highlight%2815.05m=x%29, Answer
x=%28-1.96-32.02%29%2F2=-34.02%2F2=-17.01m, disregard
Check by going back;
16%5E2=15.05%5E2%2B%281.49%2Asqrt%2815.05%29%29%5E2
256=226.5025%2B%281.96%2A15.05%29=226.5025%2B29.498
256=256.0005, close enough
Let's draw back the Triangle with close dimension scale:

Thank you,
Jojo