An aircraft is vertically above a point which is 10 km west and 15 km north of a control tower. If the aircraft is 4000 m above the ground, how far is it from the control tower??

Question

anonymous · Answer

You will have to use the distance formula in 3 dimensions.  First, 4000m will be 4 km so that you have compatible units.

anonymous · Answer

ok

anonymous · Answer

what is the distance formula in 3 dimensions???

anonymous · Answer

d = sqrt[(x1 - x2)^2 + (y1 - y2)^2 + (z1 - z2)^2]

anonymous · Answer

The arithmetic won't be hard because x2, y2, and z2 are all 0.

anonymous · Answer

What will be x,y,z

anonymous · Answer

The distances that you were given in the problem.

anonymous · Answer

18.5 km

anonymous · Answer

(10, 0, 0),  (0, 15, 0),   (0, 0, 4)  are the corresponding points because the control tower is an implied origin.  These are the points in 3-space.

anonymous · Answer

Rounded, that it!  Good job, my friend!

anonymous · Answer

So thats the final answer

anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much