SOLUTION: From the top of Mt Washington, which is 6288 feet above sea level, how far is it to the horizon?Assume that the earth has a 3960-mile radius, and give your answer to the nearest mi

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Question 1163367: From the top of Mt Washington, which is 6288 feet above sea level, how far is it to the horizon?Assume that the earth has a 3960-mile radius, and give your answer to the nearest miles
Answer by ikleyn(52899) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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If you make a sketch, you will have a right-angled triangle.


Its hypotenuse is the segment from the center of the Earth to the top of the mountain of  3960+%2B+6288%2F5280 = 3961.191 miles long.


Its leg is the Earth radius of 3960 miles drawn to the tangent point.


Its other leg is the tangent segment to the Earth from the top of the mountain.


The length of this second leg is the value the problem asks for.


Thus "how far is to the horizon" = sqrt%283961.191%5E2+-+3960%5E2%29 = 97.13 miles.    ANSWER

Solved.