Answer:
24.43 miles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Please find the attachment.
We have been given that to approach a runway, a plane must begin a 7° descent starting from a height of 3 miles above the ground.
We know that tangent relates opposite side of right triangle with adjacent.
[tex]\text{tan}=\frac{\text{Opposite}}{\text{Adjacent}}[/tex]
[tex]\text{tan}(7^{\circ})=\frac{3}{x}[/tex]
[tex]x=\frac{3}{\text{tan}(7^{\circ})}[/tex]
[tex]x=\frac{3}{0.122784560903}[/tex]
[tex]x=24.4330392839047966[/tex]
[tex]x\approx 24.43[/tex]
Therefore, the airplane is approximately 24.43 miles from the runway at the start of the approach.
