Question

The distance, "d", to the horizon (= farthest point on the earth still visible) for an object that is "h" miles above the surface of the earth is given the formula d = the square root of 8000h +h^2. Determine how many miles above the surface of the earth is an orbiting satellite if the distance to the horizon is 900 miles.

Answer 1

just plug in your numbers and solve for h

900 = √(h^2+8000h)
h^2+8000h-900^2 = 0
h = 100