An small plane is 4 miles by land away from the airport. The angle of elevation from the airport to the airplane is 6.5 ? What is the altitude of the plane? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a mile.

Question

anonymous · Answer

You need to find x, the altitude of the plane.  Do you know which trig identity you would use that relates the side adjacent to the angle to the side opposite the angle?

anonymous · Answer

no

anonymous · Answer

@marquiaparker

anonymous · Answer

Let x be the altitude of the plane. Then we can use the equation [4 * tan(6.5) = x]

anonymous · Answer

You use tangent. The S, C and T are the sin cos tan. Solve for x by multiplying both sides by 4:

anonymous · Answer

(4)tan6.5=x

anonymous · Answer

Find the tangent of 6.5 on your calculator (in degree mode!) and multiply that by 4 to get your answer.  What do you get?