Question

Mai is flying a plane at an altitude of 1600 ft. She sights a stadium at an angle of

depression of 35°. What is mai’s approximate direct distance to the stadium?

Answer 1

2,789ft

Explanation:

The set up will give a right angled triangle.

The altitude will be the opposite side = 1600 ft

The angle of depression = 35°

approximate direct distance to the stadium is the hypotenuse of the trisngle= x

Using the SOH trig identity to get the distance

sin 35 = opp/hyp

sin 35 = 1600/x

x = 1600/sin35

x = 1600/0.5736

x = 2,789.4ft

Hence mai’s approximate direct distance to the stadium is 2,789ft