Question

To approach a runway, a plane must begin a 7° descent starting from a height of 3 miles above the ground. To the nearest mile, how many miles from the runway is the airplane at the start of this approach?

Answer 1

Answer:

24.43 miles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Please find the attachment.

We have been given that to approach a runway, a plane must begin a 7° descent starting from a height of 3 miles above the ground.

We know that tangent relates opposite side of right triangle with adjacent.

$\text{tan}=\frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}}$

$\text{tan}(7^{\circ})=\frac{3}{x}$

$x=\frac{3}{\text{tan}(7^{\circ})}$

$x=\frac{3}{0.122784560903}$

$x=24.4330392839047966$

$x\approx 24.43$

Therefore, the airplane is approximately 24.43 miles from the runway at the start of the approach.