Question

A space shuttle is spotted flying at an angle of elevation of 17° when sighted from Cape Canaveral. At the moment it is sighted, it is directly overhead a ship located 12 mi from the Cape. The height of the shuttle at this moment is approximately

a)3.5
b)3.7
c)2.8
d)4.1

Answer 1

3.7 miles. The tangent of 17 degrees is .3057. So x over 12 = .3057 Thus x=(12)(.3057) or 3.6684 miles whch rounded off is 3.7 miles.