Question

Question 4

On many cell phones with GPS, an approximate location can be given before the GPS signal is
received. This is done by a process called triangulation, which works by using the distance from
two known points. Suppose there are two cell phone towers within range of you, located 6000 feet
apart along a straight highway that runs east to west, and you know you are north of the highway.
Based on the signal delay, it can be determined you are 5050 feet from the first tower, and 2420
feet from the second. Determine the angle, 0, between your line of sight to the first tower and the
highway to the nearest tenth of a degree. (A calculator is needed for this question)
24.6
20 pts
Question 5

Answer 1

1,999.8 feet.

Explanation:

First let's find angle B using the law of cosines.

24202 = 50502 + 60002 - (2)(5050)(6000)(cosB)

5856400 = 61502500 - 60600000cosB

-55646100/-60600000 = cosB

0.91825 ≈ cosB

B ≈ 23.328°

So the angle that I think the problem is asking for is approximately 23.3°.

Next we can find x.

cosB=x/5050

0.91825 ≈ x/5050

x ≈ 4637.163

So the position east of the tower is approximately 4,637.2 feet

Next we can find y.

sinB=y/5050

0.39599 ≈ y/5050

y ≈ 1999.771

So the position north of the tower is approximately 1,999.8 feet.