Question

An observer (O) spots a plane flying at a 42° angle to his horizontal line of sight. If the plane is flying at an altitude of 15,000 ft.

Answer 1

I am not too sure but I know it is not 10,035, or 16,648, nor 20,188 because I put that and it wasn’t right so the last option would be.

22,417

Answer 2

The distance between the plane and the observer is 16,659.18ft

Explanation:

Complete question:

(An observer (O) spots a plane flying at a 42° angle to his horizontal line of sight. If the plane is flying at an altitude of 15,000 ft, what is the distance between the observer and the plane)

Hello,

The question above requires us to find the distance between an observer and a plane. This is very much easy because we are given the angle at which the observer makes with the plane. To solve this question correctly, we need a pictorial representation of the situation.

See attached document for better illustration

In the diagram, we need to find x.

Since the observer and the plane makes a right angled triangle with the distance apart them, we can use SOHCAHTOA

In this case, we have to use Tangent

Tanθ = opposite/ adjacent

θ = 42°

Opposite = 15,000

Adjacent = x

Tan42 = 15000 / x

x = 15000 / tan42

x = 15000 / 0.90

x = 16,659.18ft

The horizontal distance between the observer and the plane is 16,659.18ft