Question

A plane at an altitude of 7000 feet is flying in the direction of an island. If the angle of elevation is 21 degrees from the plane to the island, what is the HORIZONTAL distance until the plane flies over the island?

Answer 1

Answer:

6,535.06 feet

Step-by-step explanation:

The set up is right angles

hypotenuse = 7000feet

angle of elevation = 21 degrees

Required

horizontal distance (adjacent)

Using SOH, CAH TOA trig identity

cos theta = adj/hyp

cos 21 =  adj/7000

adj = 7000 cos 21

adj = 7000(0.9336)

adj =  6,535.06

Hence the HORIZONTAL distance until the plane flies over the island is 6,535.06 feet