16/02/2016 ALEKS Kwadwo Amankwa - 02/16/2016 9:14:18 AM PST - Copyright 2016 UC Regents and ALEKS Corporation

Kwadwo Amankwa - 02/16/2016 9:14:18 AM PST

PreCalculus / Amankwa, Kwadwo (Amankwa)
1.

Solving a word problem using the law of sines

A pilot is flying over the ocean. She determines that the angles of depression to two
ships are 70 and 50, as shown in the figure below. The plane is 6 miles from the
ship located at point A. How far apart are the ships? Round your answer to the
nearest tenth of a mile.

50 70

6 mi

A B

We have the following figure.

C
50 70

b = 6 a

A c B

The angles of depression are measured relative to the horizontal.

So, the dashed line and the line connecting the two ships are parallel.
https://www.aleks.com/alekscgi/x/Isl.exe/1o_u-IgNsIkwVvH23goJ62qV2MzozURpazBUVpfpndjuhACwtG986MNSwXZcXGpdG_lAkw 1/3
16/02/2016 ALEKS Kwadwo Amankwa - 02/16/2016 9:14:18 AM PST - Copyright 2016 UC Regents and ALEKS Corporation

This means that the alternate interior angles have equal measure.
So A = 50 and B = 70, as shown below.

C
50 70

b = 6 a

50 70

A c B

Since the sum of the angle measures in a triangle is 180, we can find the angle
(angle A C B).

= 180 A + B
= 180 50 + 70
= 60

Using the Law of Sines, we can find c, the distance between the ships.

sin sin B
=
c b
b sin
c =
sin B
6 sin 60
=
sin 70
5.5

Here is the answer.

5.5 miles

Copyright 2016 UC Regents and ALEKS Corporation

https://www.aleks.com/alekscgi/x/Isl.exe/1o_u-IgNsIkwVvH23goJ62qV2MzozURpazBUVpfpndjuhACwtG986MNSwXZcXGpdG_lAkw 2/3
16/02/2016 ALEKS Kwadwo Amankwa - 02/16/2016 9:14:18 AM PST - Copyright 2016 UC Regents and ALEKS Corporation

https://www.aleks.com/alekscgi/x/Isl.exe/1o_u-IgNsIkwVvH23goJ62qV2MzozURpazBUVpfpndjuhACwtG986MNSwXZcXGpdG_lAkw 3/3