\
The distance from the Sun to Earth is approximately
.
The distance from the Sun to Venus is approximately
.
The elongation angle is the angle formed between the line of sight from Earth to the Sun and the line of sight from Earth to Venus
.
Consider the distance between the Earth and Venus as
.
Draw a diagram for the situation:
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Observe the figure:
\Apply the Law of Sines for triangle
:



and
.
.
.
\
Apply the Law of Sines for triangle
for
: \ \
.
Apply the Law of Sines for triangle
for
.

.
Thus, possible distances between Earth and Venus are approximately
or
.
\
Possible distances between Earth and Venus are approximately
or
.