SOLUTION: The space shuttle orbits the earth at altitudes between 115 and 400 miles. A radar station at Cape Canaveral locates the shuttle at a distance of 247.5 miles. If the shuttle is at

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Question 95308: The space shuttle orbits the earth at altitudes between 115 and 400 miles. A radar station at Cape Canaveral locates the shuttle at a distance of 247.5 miles. If the shuttle is at an altitude of 211.3 miles, then how far is it from the station?
Thank you,
Kittie

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A radar station at Cape Canaveral locates the shuttle at a distance of 247.5 miles. If the shuttle is at an altitude of 211.3 miles, then how far is it from the station?
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Draw the picture as a right triangle with base = x, altitude=211.3 and hypotenuse = 247.5
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Use Pythagoras:
247.5^2 = x^2 + 211.3^2
x^2 = 16608.56
x = 128.87 miles
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Cheers,
Stan H.