Question

From the top of a 100 ft air traffic control tower, an airplane is observed flying in at an angle of 32\displaystyle \degree°. If the airplane is 3000 feet away, what is the plane's altitude?

Answer 1

1974.6 feets

Explanation:

The plane's altitude is : h + 100 feets

To obtain h, according to the attached picture ;

We can use trigonometry :

Tan θ = opposite / Adjacent

Opposite = h ; adjacent = 3000 feets

Tan 32° = h / 3000

h = 3000 * 0.6248693

h = 1874.6080

Plane's altitude :

h + 100 feets

(1874.6080 + 100) feets

= 1974.6 feets