You observe a plane approaching overhead and assume that its speed is 500 miles per hour. The angle of elevation of the plane is 15° at one time and 56° one minute later. Approximate the altitude of the plane. (Round your answer to two decimal places.)

The altitude of the plane is 2.7244 miles

Explanation:

Consider the sketch shown below.

XY = distance traveled by the airplane after 1 minute

recall distance = speed × time

XY = 500 × =8.33 miles

From trigonometry laws,

cot 15 =

cot 56 =

cross multiplying,

AX = AB cot 15

AY = AB cot 56

AX - AY = AB cot 15 - AB cot 56

Recall that AX - AY = XY

Hence,

XY = AB (cot 15 - cot 56)

XY = AB (3.73205 - 0.67451)

XY = 3.05754 AB

AB = = = 2.7244 miles

∴ The altitude of the plane is 2.7244 miles

thats correct, but whats the question

explanation: