Question

Help! medal, fan, testimony.
An observer (O) is located 900 feet from a building (B). The observer notices a helicopter (H) flying at a 49° angle of elevation from his line of sight. What equation and trigonometric function can be used to solve for the height (h) of the helicopter? What is the height of the helicopter? Pick another trigonometric function and describe why that function is not appropriate when trying to solve for (h). You must show all work and calculations to receive full credit.
(pic below)

Answer 1

recall your SOH CAH TOA \(\bf {\color{brown}{ sin}}(\theta)=\cfrac{opposite}{hypotenuse}
\\ \quad \\

% cosine
{\color{blue}{ cos}}(\theta)=\cfrac{adjacent}{hypotenuse}
\\ \quad \\

% tangent
tan(\theta)=\cfrac{opposite}{adjacent}\)

so... which one of those... uses the opposite, the adjancent and the angle?

Answer 2

tan (: @jdoe0001

Answer 3

yeap, so let us use tangent then
\(\bf tan(\theta)=\cfrac{opposite}{adjacent}\implies tan(49^o)=\cfrac{h}{900}\impliedby \textit{solve for }h\)

Answer 4

that's what im confused about, I know we had to use tan, but finding h is confusing when there isn't a number given for it @jdoe0001

Answer 5

ok.... lemme put differently then

\(\bf 2=\cfrac{x}{3}\) if you solve that for "x", what do you get?

Answer 6

6??? @jdoe0001 sorry, I was away from my computer

Answer 7

@sleepyjess @TheSmartOne

Answer 8

@izthewiz7 - I haven't seen you do any work, yet.

Answer 9

Because just like the other question, I am lost and need guidance. only reason I'm on here. I don't do this for fun. if you aren't going to guide me, then don't. not here for criticism @tkhunny

Answer 10

This is not the issue. You must show us SOMETHING or we are safe to assume you have NOTHING and are therefore in the wrong class. It is a waste of your time and ours to try to fix that. Show us SOMETHING.

It it not criticism. It is reality.

Answer 11

Okay well all I needed was a push, i ended up finding the answer on my own. if I can show myself, why does it matter what you think? you're obviously here to help. there's a lot of people just like me that are just as clueless. and this class is mandatory, so im stuck suffering. want to say anything else? @tkhunny

Answer 12

Just one thing. Show YOUR work.