12

1. The line of sight is the line drawn from the eye of an observer to the point in the object
viewed by the observer.
2. “The line of sight is above the horizontal line and angle between the line of sight
and the horizontal line is called angle of elevation”.
3. “The line of sight is below the horizontal line and angle between the line of sight
and the horizontal line is called angle of depression”.
Object Horizontal line

Horizontal line Object

4. Theodolites are used to measure angles of elevation or depression in the process

of survey.
Example-1. The top of a clock tower is observed at angle of elevation of  and the foot
of the tower is at the distance of d meters from the observer. Draw the diagram
for this data.
Solution: Height of clock tower=AB
Observer point=C
Distance between foot of the tower and
observer=BC=d m
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 𝛼
Example-2. Rinky observes a flower on the ground from the balcony of the first floor of
a building at an angle of depression  o . The height of the first floor of the
building is x meters. Draw the diagram for this data.
Solution :
The height of the first floor of the building=AB=𝑥 𝑚
Flower point=C, Angle of depression=∠𝐷𝐴𝐶 = 𝛽

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 1

 ∠𝐷𝐴𝐶 = ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 𝛽(𝐴𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠)
Example-3. A large balloon has been tied with a rope and it is floating in the air. A person
has observed the balloon from the top of a
building at angle of elevation of 1 and foot of the
rope at an angle of depression of 2 . The height of
the building is h feet. Draw the diagram for this
data.
Solution:
Length of rope=AC
Building height=DE=ℎ 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
Angle of elevation=∠𝐵𝐷𝐶 = 𝜃1
Angle of depression=∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = 𝜃2
∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = ∠𝐷𝐴𝐸 = 𝜃2 (𝐴𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠)

1. Draw diagram for the following situations :

(i) A person is flying a kite at an angle of elevation  and the length of thread from
B
his hand to kite is ‘𝑙’.
Solu: 𝑙
Length of thread=BC=𝑙
𝛼
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 𝛼
C A

(ii) A person observes two banks of a river at angles of depression 1 and 2 (1< 𝜃2 )
from the top of a tree of height h which is at a side of the river. The width of the river is
‘d’. P B
𝜃1
Solu: 𝜃2
Height of tree=AB=ℎ ℎ

Width of river=CD=𝑑
𝜃1 𝜃2
C 𝑑 D A

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 2

 1. You are observing top of your school building at an angle of elevation  from a point which
is at d meter distance from foot of the building. Which trigonometric ratio would you like
to consider to find the height of the building?
Sol: Height of the building=AB=h m
Distance from foot of the building to observing point=AC=d m
B
We have adjacent side .We want opposite side
So we consider tangent ratio ℎ
𝐴𝐵 ℎ
tan 𝛼 = = ⇒ ℎ = 𝑑 × 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛼
𝐴𝐶 𝑑 𝛼
C 𝑑 A
2. A ladder of length 𝑥 meter is leaning against a wall making angle  with the ground. Which
trigonometric ratio would you like to consider to find the height of the point on the wall at
which the ladder is touching?
B
Sol: Length of ladder=BC=𝑥 𝑚 𝑥𝑚
The height of the point on the wall at which the ladder is touching= ℎ 𝑚
ℎ𝑚
We have hypotenuse . We want opposite side
So we consider sine ratio 𝜃
C A
ℎ
sin 𝜃 = ⇒ ℎ = 𝑥 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝑥
Example-4. A boy observed the top of an electric pole at an angle of elevation of 60º when the
observation point is 8 meters away from the foot of the pole. Find the height of the pole
Sol: Height of electric pole=AB=ℎ 𝑚 B
Observation point from the foot of the pole=AC= 8 𝑚
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 600 ℎ𝑚
𝐴𝐵 600
tan 600 =
𝐴𝐶 C A
ℎ 8𝑚
√3 = ⇒ ℎ = 8√3 𝑚
8
Example-5. Rajender observes a person standing on the ground from a helicopter at an angle of
depression 45º. If the helicopter flies at a height of 50 meters from the ground, what is the
distance of the person from Rajender? P
Sol: Height of helicopter flies from the ground=AB=50 m B
0
45
∠𝑃𝐵𝐶 = ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 450 (Alternate interior angles)
𝑥𝑚 50 𝑚
distance of the person from Rajender =BC=𝑥 𝑚
AB 450
sin 450 =
BC C A
BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 3
 1 50
=
√2 𝑥
𝑥 = 50√2
The distance from the person to Rajendar is 50√2 𝑚

1. A tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point which is 15 meter away from the
foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of the top of the tower is 45º. What is the height of
the tower?
Sol: Height of the tower=AB=ℎ 𝑚 B
Observing point=C
ℎ𝑚
AC= 15 m
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 450 450
𝐴𝐵 C A
tan 45 = 0 15 𝑚
𝐴𝐶
ℎ
1= ⇒ ℎ = 15
15
The height of the tower=15 m

2. A tree breaks due to storm and the broken part bends so that the top of the tree touches
the ground by making 30º angle with the ground. The distance between the foot of the tree
and the top of the tree on the ground is 6m. Find the height of the tree before falling down.
Sol: Let length of remaining part =AB=𝑦 𝑚 B
Length of broken part=BC=𝑥 𝑚
𝑥𝑚
AC=6m 𝑦𝑚
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 300
300
𝐴𝐶 C A
cos 300 = 6𝑚
𝐵𝐶
√3 6 12 12 × √3 12 × √3
= ⇒ 𝑥 × √3 = 6 × 2 ⇒ 𝑥 = = = = 4√3
2 𝑥 √3 √3 × √3 3
𝐴𝐵
tan 300 =
𝐴𝐶
1 𝑦 6 6 × √3 6 × √3
= ⇒ 𝑦 × √3 = 6 × 1 ⇒ 𝑦 = = = = 2√3
√3 6 √3 √3 × √3 3
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 4√3 + 2√3 = 6√3

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 4

 The height of the tree before falling down=6√3 𝑚
3. A contractor wants to set up a slide for the children to play in the park. He wants to set it
up at the height of 2 m and by making an angle of 30º with the ground. What should be the
length of the slide? B
Sol: Height of slide=AB=2 m 𝑥𝑚
2𝑚
Length of slide=BC=𝑥 𝑚
Angle of elevation=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 300 300
𝐴𝐵 C A
0
sin 30 =
𝐵𝐶
1 2
= ⇒𝑥 =2×2=4
2 𝑥
The length of slide=4 m

4. Length of the shadow of a 15 meter high pole is 15 √3 meters at 7 o’clock in the morning.
Then, what is the angle of elevation of the Sun rays with the ground at the time?
B
Sol: Height of the pole=AB=15 m
Length of shadow=AC=15√3𝑚 15 𝑚
Let the angle of elevation =∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 𝜃
300
𝐴𝐵 15 1 C A
tan 𝜃 = = = 15√3 𝑚
𝐴𝐶 15√3 √3
⇒ 𝜃 = 300
The angle of elevation of the Sun rays with the ground=300

5. You want to erect a pole of height 10 m with the support of three ropes. Each rope has to
make an angle 30º with the pole. What should be the total length of the rope required.
Sol: Height of pole=AB=10 m
B
Let length of each rope=BC=𝑥 𝑚
𝑥𝑚 300
Angle made by the rope with the pole=300 10 𝑚
𝐴𝐵
cos 300 =
𝐵𝐶
C A
√3 10 20
= ⇒ √3 × 𝑥 = 2 × 10 ⇒ 𝑥 =
2 𝑥 √3
20
The length of each rope= 𝑚
√3

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 5

 20 20
𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒 = 3 × = √3 × √3 × = 20√3𝑚
√3 √3
6. Suppose you are shooting an arrow from the top of a building at a height of 6 m to a target
on the ground at an angle of depression of 60º. What is the distance between you and the
object?
P
Sol: Height of building=AB=6 m B
0
Target place=C 60
Angle of depression=600 𝑥𝑚 6𝑚
∠𝑃𝐵𝐶 = ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 600 (𝐴𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒𝑠)
600
𝐴𝐵 C A
sin 600 =
𝐵𝐶
√3 6
=
2 𝑥
12 12 √3 12 × √3
⇒𝑥= = × = = 4√3
√3 √3 √3 3
Required distance= 4√3 𝑚

7. An electrician wants to repair an electric connection on a pole of height 9 m. He needs to

reach 1.8 m below the top of the pole to do repair work. What should be the length of the
ladder which he should use, when he climbs it at an angle of 60º with the ground? What
will be the distance between foot of the ladder and foot of the pole?
Sol: Height of pole=AD=9 m D
Electrician reached point=B 1.8 𝑚

𝐵𝐷 = 1.8 𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝐵 = 9 − 1.8 = 7.2 𝑚 B

9𝑚
Let length of ladder=BC=𝑥 𝑚 and 𝑥𝑚
7.2 𝑚
Required distance=AC= 𝑑 𝑚

0
𝐴𝐵 600
sin 60 = C A
𝐵𝐶 𝑑𝑚
√3 7.2
=
2 𝑥
7.2 × 2 7.2 × 2 √3 7.2 × 2 × √3
⇒𝑥= = × = = 2.4 × 2 × √3 = 4.8√3 𝑚
√3 √3 √3 3
𝐴𝐵
tan 600 =
𝐴𝐶

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 6

 7.2
√3 =
𝑑
7.2 7.2 √3 7.2 × √3
⇒𝑑= = × = = 2.4√3 𝑚
√3 √3 √3 3
8. A boat has to cross a river. It crosses the river by making an angle of 60º with the bank of
the river due to the stream of the river and travels a distance of 600m to reach the another
side of the river. What is the width of the river?
B
Sol: Let width of the river=AC=𝑥 𝑚
600 𝑚
Distance travelled by boat=BC=600 m
Angle made by boat=∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 600
𝐴𝐶 600
cos 600 = C A
𝐵𝐶 𝑥 𝑚
1 𝑥
=
2 600
600
⇒𝑥= = 300
2
The width of the river =300 m
9. An observer of height 1.8 m is13.2 m away from a palm tree. The angle of elevation of the
top of the tree from his eyes is 45º. What is the height of the palm tree? B
Sol: Height of observer=CD=AE=1.8 m
Distance of observer from palm tree=AC=DE=13.2 m 𝑥𝑚

0
𝐵𝐸 450
tan 45 = D E
𝐷𝐸 13.2 𝑚
𝑥 1.8 𝑚 1.8 𝑚
1=
13.2
⇒ 𝑥 = 13.2 C 13.2 𝑚 A
The height of the palm tree=AB=𝑥 + 1.8 = 13.2 + 1.8 = 15 𝑚
10. In the adjacent figure, AC = 6 cm, AB = 5 cm and BAC = 30º. Find the area of the triangle.
Sol: Let 𝐵𝐷 ⊥ 𝐴𝐶
B
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐷𝐵
𝐵𝐷 5𝑚
sin 300 =
𝐴𝐵
1 𝐵𝐷 300
= A
2 5 6𝑚 D C
5
𝐵𝐷 = 𝑚
2

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 7

 1 1 5 30
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 = × 𝐴𝐶 × 𝐵𝐷 = × 6 × = = 7.5 𝑚2
2 2 2 4

Ex: Suppose you are observing the top of the palm tree at an angle of elevation 45º. The angle
of elevation changes to 30º when you move 11 m away from the tree. Find height of the tree.
Sol: Let the height of the tree=CD=ℎ 𝑚 , 𝐵𝐶 = 𝑥 𝑚. D
Observer places=A,B
𝐴𝐵 = 11𝑚 , 𝐴𝐶 = (𝑥 + 11)𝑚
ℎ𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷
𝐶𝐷
300 450
tan 450 = A B 𝑥𝑚 C
𝐵𝐶 11 𝑚
ℎ
1 = ⇒ 𝑥 = ℎ → (1)
𝑥
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐶𝐷
𝐶𝐷
tan 300 =
𝐴𝐶
1 ℎ
=
√3 11 + 𝑥
1 ℎ
⇒ = (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 (1) 𝑥 = ℎ)
√3 11 + ℎ
⇒ √3ℎ = 11 + ℎ
⇒ √3ℎ − ℎ = 11
⇒ ℎ(√3 − 1) = 11
11
⇒ℎ=
√3 − 1
11
𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒 = 𝑚
√3 − 1
Example-6. Two men on either side of a temple of 30 meter height observe its top at the angles
of elevation 30º and 60º respectively. Find the distance between the two men.
B
Sol: Height of the temple=BD=30 m
Observers places=A,C
30 𝑚
∠𝐵𝐴𝐷 = 300 , ∠𝐵𝐶𝐷 = 600
Let 𝐴𝐷 = 𝑥 𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝐷 = 𝑑 𝑚 300 600
A
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐷 𝑥𝑚 D 𝑑𝑚 C

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 8

 𝐵𝐷
tan 300 =
𝐴𝐷
1 30
=
√3 𝑥
𝑥 = 30√3
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷
𝐵𝐷
tan 600 =
𝐶𝐷
30
√3 =
𝑑
30 30 × √3 30 × √3
𝑑= = = = 10√3
√3 √3 × √3 3
Distance between the persons=𝑥 + 𝑑 = 30√3 + 10√3 = 40√3 𝑚
Example-7. A straight highway leads to the foot of a tower. Ramaiah standing at the top of the
tower observes a car at an angle of depression 30º. The car is approaching the foot of the
tower with a uniform speed. Six seconds later, the angle of depression of the car is found to
be 60º. Find the time taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower from this point
Sol: Let the distance travelled by the car in 6
seconds = AB = x meters
Heights of the tower =CD = h meters
The remaining distance to be travelled by the
car =BC = d meters
𝐴𝐶 = (𝑥 + 𝑑 )𝑚
PDA = DAC = 300 (Alternate interior angles)
PDB = DBC = 600 (Alternate interior angles)
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷
𝐶𝐷
tan 600 =
𝐵𝐶
ℎ
√3 =
𝑑
ℎ = √3𝑑 → (1)
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷
𝐶𝐷
tan 300 =
𝐴𝐶
1 ℎ
=
√3 𝑥+𝑑

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 9

 𝑥+𝑑
ℎ= → (2)
√3
From (1)&(2)
𝑥+𝑑
√3𝑑 =
√3
√3 × √3𝑑 = 𝑥 + 𝑑
3𝑑 = 𝑥 + 𝑑
3𝑑 − 𝑑 = 𝑥
2𝑑 = 𝑥
𝑥
𝑑=
2
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 ‘𝑥’ 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 = 6 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠.
𝑥 6
𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 ‘𝑑’ 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 2 = 2 = 3 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠

1. A TV tower stands vertically on the side of a road. From a point on the other side directly
opposite to the tower, the angle of elevation of the top of tower is 60 0 . From another point
10 m away from this point, on the line joining this point to the foot of the tower, the angle
of elevation of the top of the tower is 30º. Find the height of the tower and the width of the
road. D
Sol: Let the height of the tower=CD=ℎ 𝑚
Width of the road=𝑥 𝑚
ℎ𝑚
Observation points=A,B
𝐴𝐵 = 10 𝑚, 𝐴𝐶 = (10 + 𝑥)𝑚 300 600
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐶𝐷 A 10 𝑚 B 𝑥𝑚 C
𝐶𝐷
tan 600 =
𝐵𝐶
ℎ
√3 = ⇒ ℎ = √3𝑥 → (1)
𝑥
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐶𝐷
𝐶𝐷
tan 300 =
𝐴𝐶
1 ℎ 10 + 𝑥
= ⇒ℎ= → (2 )
√3 10 + 𝑥 √3
From (1) & (2)
10 + 𝑥
√3𝑥 =
√3
√3 × √3𝑥 = 10 + 𝑥

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 10

 3𝑥 = 10 + 𝑥
3𝑥 − 𝑥 = 10
2𝑥 = 10
10
𝑥= =5
2
From (1), ℎ = √3𝑥 = √3 × 5 = 5√3
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑 = 5 𝑚
𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 5√3𝑚
2. A 1.5 m tall boy is looking at the top of a temple which is 30 meter in height from a point at
certain distance. The angle of elevation from his eye to the top of the crown of the temple
increases from 300 to 600 as he walks towards the temple. Find the distance he walked
towards the temple. D
Sol: Height of the boy=AB=CF=1.5 m
Height of the temple=CD=30 m
28.5 𝑚
Let the distance walked=BE=𝑑 𝑚
300 600 30 𝑚
𝐷𝐹 = 30 − 1.5 = 28.5𝑚
B F
1.5 𝑚 𝑑𝑚 E 𝑥𝑚 1.5 𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐷𝐸𝐹
𝐷𝐹 C
tan 600 = A (𝑥 + 𝑑) 𝑚
𝐸𝐹
28.5 28.5 28.5 √3 28.5√3
√3 = ⇒𝑥= = × = = 9.5√3 → (1)
𝑥 √3 √3 √3 3
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐹𝐷
𝐷𝐹
tan 300 =
𝐵𝐹
1 28.5
=
√3 𝑥 + 𝑑
⇒ 𝑥 + 𝑑 = 28.5√3
⇒ 9.5√3 + 𝑑 = 28.5√3
⇒ 𝑑 = 28.5√3 − 9.5√3
⇒ 𝑑 = 19√3
Distance walked by the boy towards the temple=19√3 𝑚

3. A statue stands on the top of a 2m tall pedestal. From a point on the ground, the angle of
elevation of the top of the statue is 60ºand from the same point, the angle of elevation of
the top of the pedestal is 45º. Find the height of the statue.

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 11

 Sol: Height of the pedestal=AB=2 𝑚 D
Let the height of statue=BD=ℎ 𝑚
ℎ𝑚
𝐴𝐷 = (ℎ + 2)𝑚 (ℎ + 2)𝑚
B
The point of observation=C 600
2𝑚
Let AC=𝑥 𝑚 45 0
C 𝑥𝑚 A
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶
𝐴𝐵
tan 450 =
𝐴𝐶
2
1= ⇒𝑥=2
𝑥
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐷𝐶
𝐴𝐷
tan 600 =
𝐴𝐶
ℎ+2
√3 =
𝑥
ℎ+2
√3 =
2
ℎ + 2 = 2√3
ℎ = 2√3 − 2 = 2(√3 − 1) = 2(1.732 − 1) = 2 × 0.732 = 1.454 𝑚
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑒 = 1.454 𝑚
4. From the top of a building, the angle of elevation of the top of a cell tower is 60º and the
angle of depression to its foot is 45º. If distance of the building from the tower is 7m, then
find the height of the tower. D
Sol: Let the height of building=AB=CE=𝑥 𝑚
The height of tower=CD=ℎ 𝑚 (ℎ − 𝑥)𝑚
Distance between tower and building=AC=BE=7 m
600
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶 ℎ𝑚
B E
𝐴𝐵
tan 450 = 450
𝐴𝐶 𝑥𝑚
𝑥 𝑥𝑚
1= ⇒𝑥=7
7
450
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐷𝐸 A C
7𝑚
𝐷𝐸
tan 600 =
𝐵𝐸
ℎ−𝑥
√3 =
7
ℎ − 𝑥 = 7√3
ℎ − 7 = 7√3

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 12

 ℎ = 7√3 + 7 = 7(√3 + 1) = 7(1.732 + 1) = 7 × 2.732 = 19.124 𝑚
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 19.124 𝑚
5. A wire of length 18 m had been tied with electric pole at an angle of elevation 30º with the
ground. As it is covering a long distance, it was cut and tied at an angle of elevation 60º
with the ground. How much length of the wire was cut?
Sol: Length of wire=18 m
Let height of the pole=AB=ℎ 𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐶 B
ℎ
sin 300 =
18
1 ℎ
= ℎm
2 18
18
ℎ= = 9 → (1)
2
300 600
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐷
C D A
0
ℎ
sin 60 =
𝑥
√3 ℎ
=
2 𝑥
√3 9
=
2 𝑥
18 18 √3 18√3
𝑥= = × = = 6√3 = 6 × 1.732 = 10.392 𝑚
√3 √3 √3 3
The length of the wire removed=18 − 𝑥 = 18 − 10.392 = 7.608 𝑚
6. The angle of elevation of the top of a building from the foot of the tower is 30º and the
angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the foot of the building is 60º. If the tower is
D
30 m high, find the height of the building.
Sol: Let height of the building=AB=ℎ 𝑚
The height of the tower=CD=30m
AC= d m
30 𝑚
B
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐷𝐶
30
tan 600 = ℎ𝑚
𝑑 600
30 300
√3 = A C
𝑑 𝑑𝑚
30
𝑑=
√3
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐶

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 13

 ℎ
tan 300 =
𝑑
1 ℎ
=
√3 𝑑
1 30 1 30
ℎ=𝑑× = × = = 10
√3 √3 √3 3
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 10 𝑚
7. Two poles of equal heights are standing opposite to each other on either side of the road,
which is 120 feet wide. From a point between them on the road, the angles of elevation of
the top of the poles are 60º and 30º respectively. Find the height of the poles and the
distances of the point from the poles.
B D
Sol: Let height of the poles=AB=CD=ℎ 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
Observation point=E
The distance between two poles=AC=120 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝐴𝐸 = 𝑑 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐶𝐸 = (120 − 𝑑)𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 ℎ
ℎ 30 0
𝐹𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐸 600
ℎ
tan 600 = A (120 − 𝑑) C
𝑑 𝑑 E
ℎ 120
√3 = ⇒ ℎ = 𝑑√3 → (1)
𝑑
𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐷𝐶𝐸
ℎ
tan 300 =
120 − 𝑑
1 ℎ 120 − 𝑑
= ⇒ℎ= → (2)
√3 120 − 𝑑 √3
From (1) &(2)
120 − 𝑑
𝑑√3 =
√3
𝑑√3 × √3 = 120 − 𝑑
3𝑑 = 120 − 𝑑
4𝑑 = 120
𝑑 = 30
ℎ = 𝑑√3 = 30√3 = 30 × 1.731 = 51.96
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒 = 51.96 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
The distances of the point from the poles=30 feet, 90 feet
8. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points at a distance of 4 m and 9 m,
find the height of the tower from the base of the tower and in the same straight line with it

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 14

 are complementary.
Sol: Let the height of the tower=h B
Observation points=C,D
AC=4 m, AD=9 m
Let ∠𝐴𝐶𝐵 = 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ∠𝐴𝐷𝐵 = 90 − 𝜃 ℎ
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐶
ℎ
tan 𝜃 = → (1) (90 − 𝜃) 𝜃
4
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐵𝐴𝐷
D C 4m A
9m
ℎ
tan(90 − 𝜃) =
9
ℎ 9
cot 𝜃 = ⇒ tan 𝜃 = → (2)
9 ℎ
From (1) & (2)
ℎ 9
= ⇒ ℎ2 = 36 ⇒ ℎ = 6 𝑚
4 ℎ
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 = 6 𝑚
9. The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a point A on the ground is 60º. After a flight of 15
seconds, the angle of elevation changes to 30º. If the jet plane is flying at a constant height
of 1500 √3 meter, find the speed of the jet plane.(√3 = 1.732)
Sol: Jet plane flying height from ground=BE=CD=1500√3 𝑚
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐵𝐸 B 𝑑𝑚 D
𝐵𝐸
tan 600 =
𝐴𝐸
1500√3
1500 √3 𝑚

√3 =
1500 √3 𝑚

𝑥
𝑥 = 1500
600
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 ∆𝐴𝐶𝐷
300
𝐶𝐷
tan 300 = A 𝑥𝑚 E C
𝐴𝐶 𝑑𝑚

1 1500√3
=
√3 𝑥+𝑑
𝑥 + 𝑑 = 1500√3 × √3 = 1500 × 3 = 4500
1500 + 𝑑 = 4500 ⟹ 𝑑 = 3000
The jet plane travels a distance of 3000 m in 15 seconds
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 3000
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒 = = = 200 𝑚/𝑠
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 15

BALABHADRA SURESH,AMALAPURAM,PHNO- 9866845885 Page 15