Question

A rocket is fired at sea level and climbs at a constant angle of 67 degrees through a distance of 12,000ft. Approximate its altitude to the nearest foot.

Answer 1

Use your right angle trig. The rocket climbing at 67 degrees for 12000 ft is the hypotenuse of the triangle. The altitude it reaches is the opposite side. Since you have the hypotenuse and you're looking for the altitude (the opposite side), use sin 67 as your trig function (opp/hyp.) So sin 67 = x/12000. Solve that and you have your altitude.