A rescue helicopter is flying horizontally at an altitude of 1500 feet over Georgian Bay toward Beausoleil Island.
The angle of depression to the island is 9 degrees. How much farther must the helicopter fly before it is above the island?
Give your answer to the nearest mile.
Draw it and the solution becomes obvious. tangent = opposite / adjacent
tan( 9o ) = height / distance
0.15838444 = 1500 ft / D
0.15838444 • D = 1500 ft
D = 1500 ft / 0.15838444
D = 9470.6 ft
D = 9470.6 ft / 5280 feet/mile
D = 1.79 mile rounds to 2 miles
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