If the distance from a plane to a radar station is 160 miles and the angle of depression is 33 degrees, find teh number of ground miles from the point directly below the plane to the radar station.
2006-12-19 06:00:39 · 6 answers · asked by wicked 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
The answer is 160 miles times the cosine of 33 degrees. Not only is this the correct answer geometrically if you draw it out on paper, but the answer is much more reasonable.
If you multiply the 160 by the sine of 33 degrees, you'll find your altitude is a much more reasonable value of around 8.7 miles (vs. the altitude of over 100 miles reflected by the first two answerers).
2006-12-19 06:14:45 · answer #1 · answered by Bob G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
101.33333 repeating is insane. If you said it correct the answer is 160 because it would move. You can tell because if you draw on a piece of paper the 33 degree depression from the 160. It stays the same.
2006-12-19 14:16:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
x/160= cos 33degrees
x = 160cos 33 = 160(.8387) = 134.192 miles
2006-12-19 14:23:35 · answer #3 · answered by ironduke8159 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
let the distance on the ground be x
theequation is x/160=cos 33
x=160 cos 33*
2006-12-19 14:50:06 · answer #4 · answered by raj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
160(tan 33)
2006-12-19 14:04:47 · answer #5 · answered by ikeman32 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
101.3333 miles
2006-12-19 14:06:14 · answer #6 · answered by asmodexx 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋