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I dont understand how to solve this, A satelite is 720 kilometers above Earth, which has a radius of 6360 Kilos. The reigon of earth that is visible from the sattelite is between the tangent lines BA and BC. What s BA?

 Mar 11, 2016
edited by FurryMurray22  Mar 11, 2016
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I think I have the idea, FM......

 

We have two  congruent right triangles.....where BA  is the leg of one [ and BC is the corresponding congruent leg of the other right triangle ]

 

The distance from the center of the Earth to the satellite  is the hypotenuse of both  triangles =

[ 6360  +  720] km  = 7080 km

 

And the radius of the Earth - 6360 km -  forms the other congruent leg of both right triangles....

 

So...BA is the remaining unknown leg of one of the right triangles

 

BA  = √ [ 7080^2  - 6360^2 ]   = about 3110.76 km        [ this also = BC ]

 

 

 

cool cool cool

 Mar 11, 2016

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