SOLUTION: Hi can you help me with this problem. Two observers see the same helicopter. Ashley sights the helicopter at a bearing of 44 degrees. The bearing from Ashley to Brent is 77 degrees

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Question 1140523: Hi can you help me with this problem. Two observers see the same helicopter. Ashley sights the helicopter at a bearing of 44 degrees. The bearing from Ashley to Brent is 77 degrees. They are 21 miles from each other. If Ashley is 15 miles from the helicopter, find the distance between the helicopter and Brent?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two observers see the same helicopter.
Ashley sights the helicopter at a bearing of 44 degrees.
The bearing from Ashley to Brent is 77 degrees.
They are 21 miles from each other.
If Ashley is 15 miles from the helicopter, find the distance between the helicopter and Brent?
:
draw this out, a triangle ABC is formed with the two observers and the helicopter
find the interior angle at Ashley's position
A: 77-44 = 33 degrees
the side opposite 33 degrees is the distance from Brent and the helo = a
Use the law of cosines. a^2 = b^2 + c^2 - 2bc * cos(a), where
b = 15, c = 21, A = 33 degrees,
a^2 = 15^2 + 21^2 - 2(15*21)*Cos(33)
a^2 = 75 + 441 - (630*.83867)
a^2 = 666 - 528.3625
a =
a = 11.732 mi, Brent to Helo
:
Check my math!