Helicopter spots two landing pads in opposite directions below. The angle of depression to

Pad A and Pad B is 46° and 16° respectively. If the straight-line distance from the helicopter to

Pad A is 5 miles, find the distance between the landing pads.

The distance between the landing pad ≈ 23.13 miles

Step-by-step explanation:

The plane saw 2 landing pads in opposite direction. The angles of depression to pad A and pad B are 46° and 16°. The straight line distance from the helicopter to pad A is 5 miles.

The illustration forms a triangle with 2 half's of a right angle triangle.

Pad A right angle triangle

let us use this triangle to find the opposite sides which is the same for both right angle triangle formed.

tan 46° = opposite/adjacent

tan 46° = a/5

a = 5 tan 46°

a = 5 * 1.03553031379

a = 5.17765156895

a = 5. 2 miles

Pad B right angle triangle

Let us find the straight line distance from the helicopter to pad B.

The distance is the adjacent side of the triangle.

tan 16° = opposite/adjacent

tan 16° = 5.2/adjacent

adjacent = 5.2/0.28674538575

adjacent = 18.134555108

adjacent = 18.135

Straight line distance from the helicopter to pad B = 18.135 miles

The distance between the landing pad = 5 + 18.135 = 23.134555108 miles

The distance between the landing pads ≈ 23.13 miles