Answer:
1077.19 ft
Explanation:
Using the depression angle, we get that one of the angles of the formed triangle is also 18° because they are alternate interior angles, so we get:
Now, we can relate the distance x, the angle of 18°, and the height of the tower using the trigonometric function tangent, so:
[tex]\begin{gathered} \tan 18=\frac{Opposite}{Adjacent} \\ \tan 18=\frac{350}{x} \end{gathered}[/tex]
Now, solving for x, we get:
[tex]\begin{gathered} x\cdot\tan 18=x\cdot\frac{350}{x} \\ x\cdot\tan 18=350 \\ \frac{x\cdot\tan18}{\tan18}=\frac{350}{\tan 18} \\ x=\frac{350}{\tan 18} \end{gathered}[/tex]
Using the calculator, we get that tan(18) = 0.325, so x is equal to:
[tex]x=\frac{350}{0.325}=1077.19\text{ }ft[/tex]
Therefore, the forest ranger is at 1077.19 ft from the fire.
