Question

can anyone help me?

Answer 1

A bird (B) is spotted flying 900 feet from an observer. The observer (O) also spots the top of a tower (T) at a height of 200 feet. What is the angle of depression from the bird (B) to the observer (O)?

Answer 2

SOH, CAH, TOA....

Answer 3

sin x = opposite / hypotenuse

opposite to x is OT
hypo is OB

so what is sin x ?

Answer 4

sin x = 200/900 ?

Answer 5

correct

now to get x, you must use the identity

if sin x = a \[x = \sin^{-1} a \]

Answer 6

wait is -1 and exponent ?

Answer 7

search for \[\sin^{-1} \] in your calculator

Answer 8

-90?

Answer 9

did you find
\[\sin^{-1} \] in your calculator ?

Answer 10

yah and got -90 is that wrong?

Answer 11

yeah it's not correct,

type \[\sin^{-1} (200 \div 900) \] to you calculator
what does it give you ?

Answer 12

-.186?

Answer 13

am i getting the correct answers?

Answer 14

umm not actually :S and i can't figure out where are you having a mistake

are you sure you are typing it right ?

Answer 15

no i don't think i am :c

Answer 16

umm
but your answer must be positive
and it must be between 0 and 90 (not including 0 and 90) since the angles of the triangles must add up to 180

Answer 17

try searching google for
Arcsin (200/900)

Answer 18

ok i got 12.839?

Answer 19

now it's correct

Answer 20

oh lol yes i was writing it in my calculator differently instead of doing 200/900 first then sin -1 i did sin -1 (200/900)

but thank you for the help i appreciate it

Answer 21

glad to help :)