Question

A plane took off at a point that is 42 meters from the control tower. The flight path takes the plane over the control tower that is 98 meters high. After traveling 83 meters, which statement is most accurate?

Answer 1

D). The plane needs to be about 27 meters higher to clear the tower.

Explanation:

Given that,

Height of the tower = 98 m

Distance traveled by plane = 83 m

The distance of the take-off point from the tower = 42m

This shows that it forms a right-angled triangle with

Base(B) = 42m

Hypotenuse(H) = 83m

To find,

The height of this triangle(x) = ?

Using Pythagoras theorem, we know that,

B^2 + x^2 = H^2

⇒ x^2 = H^2 - B^2

⇒ x^2 = (83)^2 - (42)^2

⇒ x^2 = 6889 - 1764

⇒ x =
`√(6889 - 1764)`

∵ x = 71.58 m

Thus, the height difference from the position of the plane to the tower = 98 - 71.58

= 26.42 m

Thus, option D i.e. 'the plane's height must be 27m above the tower' is the correct answer.