SOLUTION: Airplane starts descending at an angle of depression of 5°. If the horizontal distance to its destination is 500 km, what is the actual distance the airplane will travel before it

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: Airplane starts descending at an angle of depression of 5°. If the horizontal distance to its destination is 500 km, what is the actual distance the airplane will travel before it       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 1076785: Airplane starts descending at an angle of depression of 5°. If the horizontal distance to its destination is 500 km, what is the actual distance the airplane will travel before it lands?
Answer by rothauserc(4718) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
90 - 5 = 85 degrees
:
sin(85) = 500 / d, where d the distance traveled by the airplane when it lands
:
d = 500 / sin(85) = 500 / 0.9962 = 501.9072 km
: