Answer: Let's denote the distance the plane travels from point A to point B by d. We can then use trigonometry to set up two equations based on the angles of elevation and the constant altitude of the plane:
At point A:
tan(16°) = 6050 / x, where x is the distance between Gavin and the point directly beneath the plane at point A.
At point B:
tan(37°) = 6050 / (x + d), where x + d is the distance between Gavin and the point directly beneath the plane at point B.
We can solve for x in the first equation:
x = 6050 / tan(16°) ≈ 20416.6 ft
Substituting this into the second equation and solving for d, we get:
d = (6050 / tan(37°)) - x ≈ 22451.4 ft
Therefore, the distance the plane traveled from point A to point B is approximately 22,451 feet (rounded to the nearest foot).
Explanation: