Question

4. Charlie is at a small airfield watching for the approach of a small plane with engine trouble. He sees the plane at an angle of elevation of 32. At the same time, the pilot radios Charlie and reports the plane’s altitude is 1,700 feet. Charlie’s eyes are 5.2 feet from the ground.
 
Find the ground distance from Charlie to the plane. Show how you know.


Answer 1

check the picture below.

make sure your calculator is in Degree mode.

now, Charlie's eyes are 5.2' from the ground, however the distance from his eyes over the horizontal and the ground over the horizontal, is the same, so taking the tan(32°) at his eyes level will give that horizontal distance.