Trig: The range of a lighthouse is the maximum distance at which its light is visible. In the figure, point A is the farthest point from which it is possible to see the light at the top of the lighthouse L. The distance along Earth, s, is the range. Assuming that the radius of the Earth is 4000 miles, find the range of Marblehead Lighthouse to the nearest tenth of a mile. Enter only the number.

(Hint: Notice the right triangle EAL with right angle A. Find the length EL, then subtract the radius of the Earth to find the height of the lighthouse.)

Help please!

Question

Trig: The range of a lighthouse is the maximum distance at which its light is visible. In the figure, point A is the farthest point from which it is possible to see the light at the top of the lighthouse L. The distance along Earth, s, is the range. Assuming that the radius of the Earth is 4000 miles, find the range of Marblehead Lighthouse to the nearest tenth of a mile. Enter only the number.

(Hint: Notice the right triangle EAL with right angle A. Find the length EL, then subtract the radius of the Earth to find the height of the lighthouse.)

Help please!

anonymous · Answer

Here's the worksheet, I can't solve any of the questions.

anonymous · Answer

I have no clue what to do. I've assumed I'm working with a 30, 60, 90 triangle, which I'm probably wrong, and I've gotten that the hypotenuse is 4545.5 miles and the smaller side/range is 2272.7 miles. My answer is coming out wrong though.

anonymous · Answer

I got the answer for my problem, it was really easy. The lighthouse's height was given at 65 feet. Convert that into miles and add it to the radius of Earth, 4000. Now do the Pythagorean theorem to get the range, which is the last side we need, and you'll get 9.9 Miles. So that's the answer. 9.9 Miles.

You're welcome to whoever in the world is ever stumped on this problem.