Question

A boat spots a helicopter at an angle of elevation of 40 degree that is reporting a height of 900 feet above the water. How far is the horizontal distance from the boat to the helicopter?

Answer 1

1072.58feet

Explanation:

Given the following

Angle of elevation = 40degrees

Height of helicopter above the water = 900feet

Required

Horizontal distance H

Using the SOH CAH TOA identity

tan theta = opposite/adjacent

tan 40 = 900/H

H = 900/tan40

H = 900/0.8391

H = 1,072.58feet

Hence the horizontal distance from the boat to the helicopter is 1072.58feet