SOLUTION: I'm honestly not sure which category this question falls under, but here it is To determine the distance to an oil platform in the Pacific Ocean from both ends of a beach, a sur

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Question 56270This question is from textbook
: I'm honestly not sure which category this question falls under, but here it is
To determine the distance to an oil platform in the Pacific Ocean from both ends of a beach, a surveyor measures the angle to the platform from each end of the beach. The angle made with the shoreline from one end of the beach is 83 degrees, from the other end 78.6 degrees. If the beach is 950 yards long, what are the distances to the oil platform from both ends of the beach? This question is from textbook

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To determine the distance to an oil platform in the Pacific Ocean from both ends of a beach, a surveyor measures the angle to the platform from each end of the beach. The angle made with the shoreline from one end of the beach is 83 degrees, from the other end 78.6 degrees. If the beach is 950 yards long, what are the distances to the oil platform from both ends of the beach?
:
The Law of sines would be useful here, angle/side/angle:
= =
:
B = 83, C = 78.6, All triangles total 180 degrees:
A = 180 - 83 - 78.6 = 18.4
Given side a = 950 yds, they want us to find sides b & c.
:
Find b:
=
:
=
:
Cross mult:
.31565b = 950*.992546
.31565b = 942.9
b = 942.9/.31565
b = 2987 yds
:
Find c:
=
:
=
:
Cross mult:
.31565c = 950*.98027
.31565c = 931.6
c = 931.6/.31565
c = 2950yds
:
Anyway that's the method, check my figures, it's getting late for me.