Question

Find the angle of depression from the top of a lighthouse, 260 feet above water to a ship that's 270 feet offshore?

Answer 1

Answer: OPTION C.

Step-by-step explanation:

Observe the triangle ABC attached.

Notice that the angle of depression is represented with $\alpha$.

Knowing that the top of a lighthouse is 260 feet above water and the ship is 270 feet offshore, you can find the value of  $\alpha$ by using arctangent:

$\alpha= arctan(\frac{opposite}{adjacent})$

In this case you can identify that:

$opposite=260\\adjacent=270$

Therefore, substuting values into  $\alpha= arctan(\frac{opposite}{adjacent})$, you get that the angle of depression is:

 $\alpha= arctan(\frac{260}{270})\\\\\alpha=43.92\°$