Question

The altitude of a plane is 1200 meters. From a point on the ground, the angle of elevation of an airplane is 25º. What is the distance from point P to the airplane, to the nearest tenth of a meter? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

2839.4 meters

Explanation:

Given that:

Altitude = 1200 m

Using trigonometry :

The distance from point P to the airplane :

Using trigonometric relation :

Sin θ = opposite / hypotenus

Sin θ = altitude / x

Sin θ = 1200 m / x

Sin 25 = 1200 / x

0.4226182 = 1200 / x

x = 1200 / 0.4226182

x = 2839.4423

Distance from P to airplane = 2839.4 meters