The following applet is an illustration of how triangulation can be used to determine the distance to an object. The checkboxes provide a step by step structure on how this process works. A ship approaches a coastal city. As the commander of the city's fort, you need to determine how far the ship is from your town. Follow the steps to determine how to find this distance. After using the applet, use the information given in the applet and below in the questions to determine the distance. Would it be realistically possible to determine the distance from the ship to the fort with out using the other points of reference, such as the monastery? Why or why not?
If it is known that the distance from the monastery to the shipyard is 1.5 miles, how far is the ship from the shipyard? Using this information, determine the distance from the fort to the ship. Would it be realistically possible to determine the distance from the fort to the ship without the other points of reference? Explain why or why not.