From the top of a 197 − f t lighthouse, the angle of depression to a ship in the ocean is 19 ∘ . How far is the ship from the base of the lighthouse?

Answer 1

draw a diagram

the angle of depression is the same as the angle of elevation

you have a right triangle

the lighthouse is 197 feet high and you want the distance from the ship to the lighthouse, the horizontal distance of the right triangle

use the tangent function

tangent=opposite/adjacent

tan(19°)=197/d where d=distance from the ship to the lighthouse

0.3443276=197/d

d=197/0.3443276

d=572.12956 feet is the distance from the ship to the lighthouse, round as needed