A plane is in line with a 1200m landing strip. The pilot measures the angles of depression of
the ends of the strip to be 15.8º and 11.5º. How high up is the plane AND how far is it
horizontally from the nearer end of the strip?

Question

A plane is in line with a 1200m landing strip.  The pilot measures the angles of depression of 
     the ends of the strip to be 15.8º and 11.5º.  How high up is the plane AND how far is it 
     horizontally from the nearer end of the strip?

campbell_st · Answer

well start by drawing a diagram and find the missing angles

|dw:1391711988488:dw|

now use the law of sines to find the value of x

$$\frac{1200}{\sin(4.3)} = \frac{x}{\sin(11.5)}$$

when you find x, you can then find the height of the plane and the distance
from the airstrip using trig ratios... 

you'll have a hypotenuse, and an angle...in a right triangle. 

hope it helps