Question

An observer on a cliff 1000 yards above sea level sights two ships due east. The angles of depression from the observers perspective of the ships are 54 degrees and 35 degrees. Find the distance between the two ships. Round to the nearest hundredth yard.

Answer 1

480.53 yards

Explanation:

cos(35) = 1000/hypotenuse1 - multiply by h (hypotenuse)

(h1)cos(35) = 1000 - divide by cos(35)

h1 = 1000 / cos(35)

h1 = 1220.7746

Same thing with the angle of depression of 54 degrees.

h2 = 1000 / cos(54)

h2 = 1701.3016

h2 - h1 = 480.53