MATHEMATICAL PROOF
 

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Mathematical Proof of the Solution to Find an Aircraft's Altitude When One Side and Two Adjacent Angles are Known
 Prove: h=(SIN(angle A)*SIN(angle B)*length of c) / SIN(180-A-B)
Known
c= base line distance
A and B = measured angles to aircraft

To be determined
h = aircraft's altitude

  

 

 

 

Given:

Law of sines: length-of-a/SIN(angle A) =length-of-c/SIN(angle C)
 h is perpendicular to line c

a=SIN A *(c/SIN C)

Where in a 90 degree triangle h/a= SIN B then h=SIN B * a

substitute the definition of "a" from above then:

h=SIN B*a=SIN B * (SIN A * c/SIN C)

Where angles A+B+C=180 then C= 180-A-B

h=SIN B * SIN A * c / SIN (180-A-B)

h=SIN A * SIN B * c / SIN (180-A-B)

The aircraft's altitude (h) can now be solved because we know angles A and B and the length of c.