SOLUTION: Problem: An airplane is 12,000 ft horizontally from the airport. The slanted distance to the airport is 13,000 ft. what is the plane’s altitude? Thank you.

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Question 169769: Problem:
An airplane is 12,000 ft horizontally from the airport. The slanted distance to the airport is 13,000 ft. what is the plane’s altitude?

Thank you.

Found 2 solutions by vleith, Alan3354:
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
one leg is 12000, the hypotenuse is 13000. The other leg is the altitude.
13000%5E2+=+12000%5E2+%2B+A%5E2
13000%5E2+-+12000%5E2+=+A%5E2
This is a variation on the 5-12-13 right triangle. You'll want to 'recognize' them (just like you ought to recognize a 3-4-5)

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An airplane is 12,000 ft horizontally from the airport. The slanted distance to the airport is 13,000 ft. what is the plane’s altitude?
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13000 is the hypotenuse of a right triangle, and 12000 is one leg.
The altitude = sqrt%2813000%5E2+-+12000%5E2%29
=1000sqrt%2813%5E2+-+12%5E2%29
=1000sqrt%28169+-+144%29
=1000sqrt%2825%29
=1000*5
= 5000 feet