Question

A person is watching a boat from the top of a lighthouse. The boat is approaching

Answer 1

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Answer:

  445.10 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

The relation between angle of depression and distance to the boat is ...

  Tan = Opposite/Adjacent

  tan(angle of depression) = (200 ft)/(distance to boat)

Then the distance to the boat is ...

  distance to boat = (200 ft)/tan(angle of depression)

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We want the change in distance between the two angles, so ...

  change in distance = (200 ft)/tan(17°31') -(200 ft)/tan(46°41')

  = (200 ft)(cot(17°31') -cot(46°41'))

  change in distance ≈ 445.10 ft