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Question

The observer looks up at the plane with an angle of elevation of 48 degrees and looks down to the car at angle of depression of 35 degrees. Both the car and plane are at horizontal distance of 150 feet. What is the height of the plane?

Answer 1

construct 2 right triangles

one has 48 degrees, 42 degrees and 90 degrees

it's base = 150 feet. it's height = 150tan48

the 2nd has 35 degrees, 55 degrees and 90 degrees

it's base = 150 feet, it's height = 150tan35

the difference in height between the plane and car

= 150(tan48+tan32) =about 150(1.11+ 0.70)

= 150(1.81)

= about 271.5 feet