A man Standing on top of A cliff 50m high is in line with two buoys whose angles of depression are 18degree and 20degree. Calculate the distance between the buoys.

Question

dumbcow · Answer

Use tan function:
tan = opp/adj
Let x be distance from cliff to 1st buoy
$$\tan 20 = \frac{x}{50}$$
Let y be distance from cliff to 2nd buoy
$$\tan 18 = \frac{y}{50}$$

Distance between buoys is  y-x

anonymous · Answer

Well, the first buoy is $$50\tan 18$$50tan(18) meters away (basic right angled triangle)  The second one is 50tan(20) meters away.  We calculate these and get a difference.

anonymous · Answer

The answer is 16.5m

dumbcow · Answer

thats the idea..my angles may be off

dumbcow · Answer

depression meaning angle of line from top of cliff
hmm that means the compliment is the angle you want to take tangent of

anonymous · Answer

Ah right.

dumbcow · Answer

$$1st = 50*\tan 70 =137.37$$
$$2nd = 50*\tan 72 = 153.88$$
$$153.88-137.37 = 16.51$$

anonymous · Answer

tan (90-20)
tan(90-18)

anonymous · Answer

those should be the angle you should use ..

anonymous · Answer

Thank