a parachutist exits a plane at a height of 4250ft directly over his target the path of his descent is a straight line that makes an angle of 85 degrees with the ground. by what distance does the parachutist miss his target?

Question

campbell_st · Answer

start by drawing a picture

|dw:1367353616619:dw|

hope this helps.

anonymous · Answer

so use tangent

campbell_st · Answer

yep... thats the ratio

so 

$$\tan(85) = \frac{4250}{d}$$

solve for d

anonymous · Answer

so i multiply 85*4250=361,250 or is that wrong

campbell_st · Answer

nope when the unknown (d) is in the denominator just swap it with tan(85)

so 

$$d = \frac{4350}{\tan(85)}$$

and think carefully about you answer... does it make sense... you have the person missing by around 70 miles... 

so use the equation above to find the distance he misses by

anonymous · Answer

so 51.18ft

anonymous · Answer

so i dived 85/4350 or do i divide 4350/85

campbell_st · Answer

use the solution I'vw written above.