Question

An aircraft (at Z) is spotted by two observers (at X and Y) who are L = 1950 feet
apart. As the airplane passes over the line joining them, each observer takes a
sighting of the angle of elevation to the plane, as indicated in the figure. If A = 45°,
and B = 40°, how high is the airplane?

Answer 1

Answer:

889.70 feets

Step-by-step explanation:

From the solution diagram attached :

C = 180 - (40 + 45) = 95°

According to the sine rule :

Sin95 / 1950 = Sin40 / b = Sin 45 / a

1950 sin40 / sin 95 = b = 1248.22 ft

1950 sin 45 / sin 95 = a = 1384.13 ft

Sin 40 = h / 1384.13

h = 1384.13 * sin 40

h = 889.70 feets