1. **Problem:** A scuba diver is 145 feet above a sunken ship and measures the angle of depression to the ship as 73°. Find the distance the diver needs to swim to reach the ship, rounded to the nearest tenth of a foot. 2. **Formula:** Use the tangent function in a right triangle: $$\tan(\theta) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}$$ where the opposite side is the vertical distance (145 ft) and the adjacent side is the horizontal distance (x) to the ship. 3. **Set up the equation:** $$\tan(73^\circ) = \frac{145}{x}$$ 4. **Solve for x:** Multiply both sides by x: $$x \tan(73^\circ) = 145$$ Divide both sides by $$\tan(73^\circ)$$: $$x = \frac{145}{\tan(73^\circ)}$$ 5. **Calculate:** Using a calculator, $$\tan(73^\circ) \approx 3.273$$ So, $$x = \frac{145}{3.273} \approx 44.3$$ feet. 6. **Answer:** The diver needs to swim approximately **44.3 feet** to reach the ship.