SOLUTION: A disabled jet can glide at an angle of 11 degrees with the horizontal. If it starts to glide at an altitude of 12,000 feet, can it reach a landing strip 10 miles away?

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: A disabled jet can glide at an angle of 11 degrees with the horizontal. If it starts to glide at an altitude of 12,000 feet, can it reach a landing strip 10 miles away?      Log On


   

Question 785102: A disabled jet can glide at an angle of 11 degrees with the horizontal. If it starts to glide at an altitude of 12,000 feet, can it reach a landing strip 10 miles away?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39623) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Description forms a right-triangle with the right angle directly under the jet. One leg is 12000 feet and the other leg is 10 miles, assuming distance were understood as along the ground, not being the hypotenuse.

We can find the tangent of the angle at the arrival point for this triangle and use this tangent to find the angle there. This angle needs to be greater than or equal to 11 degrees if this jet is expected to land at that location for its arrival.
Be sure to convert the 10 miles....
10%2A5280=52800 miles%28feet%2Fmile%29, FEET.

arctan%2812000%2F52800%29=arctan%28120%2F528%29=highlight%2812.8%29 degrees.
Yes, the jet can make the landing. The angle here is steeper. The pilot can afford to go a little steeper than 11 degrees but not shallower than it.