Problema Solution

From two observation points A and B, a sinking ship is spotted at point C. Angle CAB is 28° and angle ABC is 60°. The distance between A and B is 4.12 miles. How far is the ship from point A to the nearest hundredth of a mile?

Answer provided by our tutors

Angle CAB is 28°

Angle ABC is 60°

Angle BCA is 180 - (28 + 60) = 180 - 88 = 92°


the distance between A and B is 4.12 miles and will denote it with c = 4.12 miles

the distance between B and C we will denote with a

the distance between A and C we will denote with b


we need to find b


we will use Law of Sines formula


b/(sin ABC) = c/(sin BCA)


b/(sin 60) = 4.12/(sin 92)


by solving we find


b = 3.57 miles


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the ship is 3.57 miles from the point A.