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An airplane travels 125 miles horizontally during a decrease of 9miles vertically. (a) What is the angle of descent? (b) What is the distance of the plane’s path?

User Gsouf
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1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

A = 85.87°

B = 124.67 miles

Explanation:

To find the angle of depression, we'll have to know the angle at which the plane makes with vertical height.

See attached document for better illustration.

The plane travels horizontally for 125 miles and it was at a height of 9 miles.

To find the angle of depression, we'll use SOH CAH TOA to know which one suite the question.

SineΘ = opposite / hypothenus

CosΘ = adjacent / hypothenus

tanΘ = opposite / adjacent

The hypothenus is 125 miles and the adjacent is 9 miles. So we can use

CosΘ = adjacent / hypothenus

Cos Θ = 9 / 125

Cos Θ = 0.072

Θ = cos⁻0.072

Θ = 85.87°

The angle of depression which the plane makes is 85.87°

B. The distance the plane travels.

Since we have two side and unknown side in a right angle triangle, we can use pythagorean theorem

X² = y² + z²

X = 125

Y = 9

Z = ?

125² = 9² + z²

Z² = 125² - 9²

Z² = 15544

Z = √(15544)....take the square root of both sides.

Z = 124.67 miles.

The distance of the plane path is 124.67 miles

An airplane travels 125 miles horizontally during a decrease of 9miles vertically-example-1
User Csells
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