Question

A pirate sits in a crows nest at the top of his ship. He spots land at an angle of depression of 19°. If the pirate is 24 feet above sea level, how far away is the ship from land?

Answer 1

69.7 feet.

Explanation:

See the diagram attached to this answer.

Let us assume that B is the top point of the ship from where the angle of depression of the land at C is 19°.

So, ABC forms a right triangle where ∠ C is 19° and side AB = 24 feet and we have to find AC.

Now,
`\tan 19 = (AB)/(AC) = (24)/(x)` {Where x is the measure of AC i.e. distance from ship to land}

⇒
`x =(24)/(\tan 19) = 69.7` feet. (Answer)