Question

an airplane is sighted at the same time by two ground observers who are 2 miles apart and in line with the airplane. they report the angles of elevation as 10 degrees and 22 degrees. how high is the airplane?

Answer 1

Let A, B, C be the position of the first and the second observer and the point directly beneath the airplane. Let H be the height of the air plane.

Then we have
tan 10deg=h/AC
tan 22 deg=h/BC
AC-BC=2
This can be solved for the three unknowns h, AC and BC.
I find h=0.625 miles.

Does that make sense or do you need a further explanation?

Answer 2

further explanation

Answer 3

that was my drawing

Answer 4

Caroline,
Would you mind saying what it is that you'd still like to learn in regard to Kirby's solution?