An observer (O) is located 900 feet from a building (B). The observer notices a helicopter (H) flying at a 49° angle of elevation from his line of sight. How high is the helicopter flying over the building? You must show all work and calculations to receive full credit.

h = 1035.33

Step-by-step explanation:

You can use tangent to help you solve this problem. Remember tan is opposite over adjacent.

Step 1: Write out equation w/ known variables

tan(49°) = h / 900

Step 2: Solve

900tan(49°) = h

Plug it into your calc and you should get h = 1035.33 ft

And you have your final answer!

h = 1035.33

Step-by-step explanation:

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4