Question

From the top of a lighthouse 55 m above the water the angle of depression of a ship is 3.8°. Find the distance from the base of the lighthouse to the ship.

Answer 1

Given:

To find length of BC,

$\begin{gathered} \tan (B)=\frac{AC}{BC} \\ \tan (3.8^{\circ})=\frac{55}{BC} \\ BC=\frac{55}{\tan (3.8^{\circ})} \\ BC=828.06 \end{gathered}$

Answer: the distance from the base of the lighthouse to the ship is 828.06 m