Trigonometry (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671775
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-177-6

Chapter 7 - Applications of Trigonometry and Vectors - Section 7.3 The Law of Cosines - 7.3 Exercises - Page 316: 48

Answer

The distance between the battleship and the submarine is 1451.95 feet

Work Step by Step

Let the airplane be at point A. Let the battleship be at point B. Let the submarine be at point C. The points ABC form a triangle. Angle A = $24^{\circ}10'-17^{\circ}30' = 6^{\circ}40'$ Angle B = $17^{\circ}30'$ We can find angle C: $C = 180^{\circ}-A-B$ $C = 180^{\circ}-6^{\circ}40'-17^{\circ}30'$ $C = 155^{\circ}50'$ We can use the law of sines to find the distance $BC$, which is the distance between the battleship and the submarine: $\frac{BC}{sin~6^{\circ}40'} = \frac{5120}{sin~155^{\circ}50'}$ $BC = \frac{5120~sin~6^{\circ}40'}{sin~155^{\circ}50'}$ $BC = 1451.95~ft$ The distance between the battleship and the submarine is 1451.95 feet
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