Question

Assistance needed :)


A bird (B) is spotted flying 6,000 feet from a tower (T)). An observer (O) spots the top of the tower (T) at a distance of 9,000 feet. What is the angle of depression from the bird (B) to the observer (O)?

Answer 1

A. 33.69°
B. 41.81°
C. 48.18°
D. 56.31°

Answer 2

@ParthKohli @nincompoop @dan815

Answer 3

hint:
we can write this:
\[\Large 9000 = 6000 \cdot \tan x\]

Answer 4

so, we get:
\[\Large x = \arctan \left( {\frac{{9000}}{{6000}}} \right) = \arctan \left( {\frac{3}{2}} \right) = ...?\]

Answer 5

I feel pretty dumb, I was over here using sin XD I need more sleep ;-;

Answer 6

I'm still slightly confused though.

Answer 7

If I divide 9000 and 6000 I would get 1.5

Answer 8

But where did the 3 over 2 come from

Answer 9

yes! and \(3/2=1.5\)
hint:
the value of \(x\) is such that its tangent is equal to \(3/2\). We can write such value in a different, and equivalent way:
\[\Large x = {\tan ^{ - 1}}\left( {\frac{3}{2}} \right) = ...?\]

Answer 10

.98279372324 is what my calculator says. How do I go about converting it to my options?

Answer 11

please, make sure to set your calculator in \(deg\) mode

Answer 12

So thats why I'm getting everything wrong!

Answer 13

56.309932474
Now I just round to the hundredths

Answer 14

that's right!
probably your calculator was in \(rad\) mode

Answer 15

56.31

Answer 16

correct!

Answer 17

It was in rad, lol XD Now I can make sense of my work

Answer 18

Thank you so much!

Answer 19

:)