SOLUTION: A Coast Gaurd Ship is rushing to the aid of a sailboat. A rescue helicopter is already hovering above the sailboat at an altitude of 125 feet. The angle of elevation from the deck

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Question 193547: A Coast Gaurd Ship is rushing to the aid of a sailboat. A rescue helicopter is already hovering above the sailboat at an altitude of 125 feet. The angle of elevation from the deck of the Coast Gaurd Ship and the helicopter is 24 degrees. How far is the Coast Gaurd Ship from the sail boat?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A Coast Gaurd Ship is rushing to the aid of a sailboat. A rescue helicopter is already hovering above the sailboat at an altitude of 125 feet. The angle of elevation from the deck of the Coast Gaurd Ship and the helicopter is 24 degrees. How far is the Coast Gaurd Ship from the sail boat?
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Draw the right triangle picture.
Put the sailboat at the ri. angle vertex ; the helicopter is 125ft above it.
The 24 degree angle is opposite the 125 leg
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Find the length of the base.
tan(24) = 125/base
base = 125/tan(24) = 280.75 ft
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Cheers,
Stan H.