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Question 857131: I need help with this. Press to the link the question. http://prntscr.com/34f3hm
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Problem:



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Steps:


Let x = horizontal distance between airport and plane


First mark the angle of depression (in red). That is given to be 34 degrees



The second angle below that is also marked is congruent to the first one marked. The two angles are alternate interior angles (because of the parallel horizontal lines).



So therefore, the bottom red angle is also 34 degrees. Let's add in the label 'x' as well so we know which side we're solving for.


So we have a right triangle with an angle of 34 degrees. The side opposite this angle is 3200 ft. The unknown side is the adjacent side and it is x feet long.


This means we use the tangent function


Tangent+=+%28Opposite%29%2F%28Adjacent%29


tan%28angle%29+=+%28Opposite%29%2F%28Adjacent%29


tan%2834%29+=+%28Opposite%29%2F%28Adjacent%29


tan%2834%29+=+3200%2Fx


x%2Atan%2834%29+=+3200


x+=+3200%2Ftan%2834%29


x+=+4744.19509924 Use a calculator here


x+=+4744 Round to the nearest foot


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Final Answer:


To the nearest whole foot, the approximate horizontal distance between the airport and the plane is 4,744 feet