Question

A satellite , B, is 17,000 miles from the horizon of earth's radius is about 4,000 miles. Find the approximate distance the satellite is from the earth's surface.
-13,464 miles
-17,464 miles
-20,957 miles
-21,000 miles

Answer 1

Help Help Help <3

Answer 2

Note: all numbers are in thousands (so when I type 4, I mean "4 thousand")
AO = 4
AE = 17
EO = x+4
---------------
AE^2 + AO^2 = EO^2 .... pythagorean theorem
17^2 + 4^2 = (x+4)^2
289+16 = (x+4)^2
305 = (x+4)^2
(x+4)^2 = 305
x+4 = sqrt(305)
x = -4+sqrt(305)
x = -4+17.464
x = 13.464
Remember I stated that all values are in thousands, so x = 13.464 really means 13,464

So the approximate distance the satellite is from the Earth’s surface is 13,464 miles

Answer 3

Thank you! :D

Answer 4

Anytime.