Question

A plane is flying at an altitude of 17,000 feet. The angle of depression from the plane to the airport on the ground is 21°. What is the distance between the plane and the airport to the nearest 10th of a foot

Answer 1

47437.3

Explanation:

Answer 2

47,433.0 feet

Explanation:

Using the SOH CAH TOA identity

Height of the plane = opposite = 17000feet

distance between the plane and the airport = hypotenuse = x

Angle of depression = 21 degrees

Since Sin theta = opp/hyp

Sin 21 = 17000/x

x = 17000/sin21

x = 17000/0.3584

x = 47,433.0

Hence the distance between the plane and the airport to the nearest 10th of a foot is 47,433.0 feet