Question

Use the image to answer the question.

A right triangle with 15 degrees at the bottom right. Segemnet below 15 degree is labeled x; leg opposite 15 degrees is 250 ft.

A plane is taking off at a 15° angle from a horizontal runway. When the altitude of the plane is 250 feet, apply trigonometric functions and the Pythagorean Theorem to find x, the horizontal distance the plane has flown. Round the answer to the nearest whole number.

(1 point)
x=

feet

Answer 1

tan(15°) = opposite/adjacent = 250/x, so x = 250 / tan(15°) ≈ 250 / 0.267949 = 933.0

Rounded to the nearest whole number: x = 933 feet.