Question

The angle of depression between the top of a 100-foot cliff and a ship approaching the shore is 37. What is the approximate distance, d, between the bottom of the cliff and the ship?

Answer 1

76 feet

Explanation:

let 'd' = distance from bottom of cliff and ship

sin 37 = sin 53

d 100

0.61 = 0.8

d 100

cross-multiply: 61 = .8d

d = 76

I assumed the bottom of the cliff and the shore formed a 90 degree angle - which leaves the 37° angle and a 53° angle