Question

An airplane is flying out an altitude of approximately 2 miles above ground level. The pilot sites a landmark at the angle of depression of 11°. One minute later the pilot sides the same landmark and an angle of depression of 18°. To the nearest 10th of a mile how far did the plane fly in that minute?

Answer 1

0.3 miles

Explanation:

Using trigonometry : d

Tanθ = opposite / Adjacent

Tan 11 = d1 / 2

2tan11 = d1

0.3887606 miles = d1

Tanθ = opposite / Adjacent

Tan 11 = d2 / 2

2tan18 = d2

0.6498393 miles = d2

d2 - d1 = Distance flown within the minute

0.6498393 - 0.3887606 miles

= 0.2610787 miles

= 0.3 miles