SOLUTION: On a test flight, during the landing of the space shuttle, the ship was 325 feet above the end of the landing strip. It then came in on a constant angle of 7.5 degrees with the lan

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: On a test flight, during the landing of the space shuttle, the ship was 325 feet above the end of the landing strip. It then came in on a constant angle of 7.5 degrees with the lan      Log On


   

Question 318552: On a test flight, during the landing of the space shuttle, the ship was 325 feet above the end of the landing strip. It then came in on a constant angle of 7.5 degrees with the landing strip. How far from the end of the landing strip did it first touch ground?

Answer by csr212(7) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
This is a right-angled triangle, with the base as the distance from the end of the landing strip, the height as 325 ft and a base angle of 7.5.
A = 7.5°
C = 90°
a = 325
to find angle B the sum of all angles in a triangle is 180°
7.5°+B+90°=180°
B = 82.5°
To find side b = tan(B)=opp/adj = tan(B)=AC/CB
AC=CB-tan(B)
AC=325-tan(82.5°)
Multiply 325 by 7.59573
AC or b = 2468.61225
The shuttle landed 2468.61225 feet from the end of the landing strip or 2469 feet.