Question

An air traffic controller at an airport sights a plane at an angle of elevation of 28º.

The pilot reports that the plane's altitude is 4500 feet.

To the nearest foot, what is the distance from the control tower to the plane?

3190 ft

8463 ft

2113 ft

9585 ft

Answer 1

8463 feets

Explanation:

Using the diagram attached :

Distance of control tower to plane = d

Using tro:

Tan θ = opposite / Adjacent

Tan 28 = 4500 / d

0.5317094 = 4500 / d

0.5317094d = 4500

d = 4500 / 0.5317094

d = 8463.2690