From a balloon 996 feet high, the angle of depression to the ranger headquearters is 46 49' degrees. How far is the headquarters from a point on the ground directly below the balloon (to the nearest foot)?
930ft
925ft
935ft
940ft
2007-11-29 05:54:10 · 4 answers · asked by Jimmy1992 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
Draw a triangle (draw a line from the balloon straight down to the ground, then straight across to the headquarters, then a slanted line back to the balloon).
Label the vertical line 996 feet. Label the angle at the headquarters 46 degrees 49 minutes (or 46 49/60 degrees).
tan (46 49/60) = 996/d
tan (46.81667) = 996/d
d = 935 feet
2007-11-29 06:39:19 · answer #1 · answered by Katy D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make a triangle:
tan(46 49') = 996/d
d=996/tan(46 49')
d=935ft
2007-11-29 14:10:14 · answer #2 · answered by someone2841 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
945 ft. Picture this as a right traingle, and use this equation:
tangent of angle' = b/a,
where line b = point under balloon to the ranger station, and line a = point under the balloon to the balloon itself.
If you take the angle of depression, and subtract it by 90 degrees, you'll get the angle' above.
2007-11-29 14:10:39 · answer #3 · answered by x97freeman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is it 46 or 49 degrees?
2007-11-29 13:59:29 · answer #4 · answered by seansippo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋