Question

Meteorologist Wendy Stevens uses a theodolite (an angle-measuring device) on a
1-meter-tall tripod to find the height of a weather balloon. She views the balloon at a 44° angle of
elevation. A radio signal from the balloon tells her that it is 1400 meters from her theodolite.
a.How high is the balloon?
b.How far is she from the point directly below the balloon?
c.If Wendy’s theodolite were on the ground rather than on a tripod, would your answers change?
Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

i get sin(44)=x / 1400x=1400sin(44)=975.52but this is the height from one meter up so you have to add 1 to get 976.52.

or the second one if we call the distance d, then cos(44)=d / 1400 or d=1400cos(44)=1007