Question

A lifeguard is in a look out chair and sees a person in distress. The eye level of the lifeguard is 15 feet above the ground. The angle of depression to the person is 34˚. What is the horizontal distance between the lifeguard and the person? Round to the nearest foot, and enter the number only.

Answer 1

Answer:

Horizontal distance between lifeguard and the person is 22 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given: A lifeguard sees a person in distress.The eye level of the lifeguard is 15 feet above the ground. Angle of depression is 34°.

To find: Horizontal distance between lifeguard and the person.

Solution : If we draw a triangle then tan∅ = $\frac{height}{base}$

               Here base is the horizontal distance.

               Now we put the values in the formula.

               tan 34° = $\frac{15}{base}$

              Or Base = $\frac{15}{tan34}$

                             = $\frac{15}{0.675} = 22.22 feet$

So the answer is 22 feet.