APPLICATION OF TRIGONOMETRY

CONTENTS B

 Angle of Elevation
 Angle of Depression
60º
C A
 ANGLE OF ELEVATION
Then, AC = 20 m and ACB = 60º.
The angle of elevation of the point viewed is the
Let AB = h.
angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal
when the point being viewed is above the horizontal AB
Then, = tan 60º = 3
level, i.e. the case when we raise our head to look at AC
the object. (see fig.)
h
A  = 3
20

 h = (20 × 3 )m = (20 × 1.732) m

Angle of elevation = 34.64 m.

O B Ex.2 If a vertical pole 6m high has a shadow of
length 2 3 metres, find the angle of elevation
 ANGLE OF DEPRESSION of the sun.
The angle of depression of a point on the object Sol. Let AB be the vertical pole and AC be its
being viewed is the angle formed by the line of shadow.
sight with the horizontal when the point is below Let the angle of elevation be . Then,
the horizontal level, i.e. the case when we lower our
head to look at the point being viewed. (See fig.) B
A

Angle of depression


C A
B C
AB = 6 m, AC = 2 3 m
EXAMPLES  and ACB = .
Ex.1 The shadow of a building is 20 m long when AB 6
the angle of elevation of the sun is 60º. Find Now, tan  = = = 3 = tan 60º.
AC 2 3
the height of the building.
Sol. Let AB be the building and AC be its shadow.   = 60º.
Ex.3 A ladder against a vertical wall makes an angle Sol. Let B the position of the helicopter and let C, D
of 45º with the ground. The foot of the ladder be the ships. Let AB be the vertical height.
is 3m from the wall. Find the length of the
B
ladder.
45º
Sol. Let AB be the wall and CB, the ladder. 60º
B 1200 m

45º 60º
D C A
Then, AB = 1200 m,
45º
ACB = 60º and ADB = 45º.
C A
AD
Then, AC = 3m and ACB = 45º Then, = cot 45º = 1
AB
CB CB
Now, = sec 45º = 2  = 2 AD
AC 3  = 1  AD = 1200 m
1200
  Length of the ladder = CB = 3 2 AC 1
And, = cot 60º =
= (3 × 1.41) m = 4.23 m AB 3
Ex.4 A balloon is connected to a meteorological AC 1
station by a cable of length 200 m, inclined at  =
60º to the horizontal. Find the height of the 1200 3
balloon from the ground. Assume that there is 1200
no slack in the cable.  AC = = 400 3 m.
3
Sol. Let B be the balloon and AB be the vertical
height. Let C be the meteorological station and Ex.6 A vertical tower stands on a horizontal plane
CB be the cable. and is surmounted by a flagstaff of height 7m.
At a point on the plane, the angle of elevation
B of the bottom of the flagstaff is 30º and that of
the top of the flagstaff is 45º. Find the height
of the tower.
Sol. Let AB be the tower and BC be the flagstaff.
60º C
C A
Then, BC = 200 m and ACB = 60º
B
AB 3
Then, = sin 60º =
BC 2
30º 45º
AB 3 O A
 =
200 2
Then, BC = 7 m. Let AB = h.
 200  3  Let O be the point of observation.
  AB =   m = 173.2 m.
 2 
  Then, AOB = 30º and AOC = 45º.
Ex.5 The pilot of a helicopter, at an altitude of OA
1200m finds that the two ships are sailing Now, = cot45º = 1
AC
towards it in the same direction. The angle of
depression of the ships as observed from the  OA = AC = h + 7.
helicopter are 60º and 45º respectively. Find
the distance between the two ships.
 OA Ex.8 From the top of a cliff 25 m high the angle of
And, = cot 30º = 3 elevation of a tower is found to be equal to the
AB
angle of depression of the foot of the tower.
OA Find the height of the tower.
 = 3  OA = h 3
h Sol. Let AB be the cliff and CD be the tower.
 h+7= h 3 D

7 3  1 7( 3  1)
h=  = = 9.562 m
3 1 3 1 2
Ex.7 From the top of a building 30 m high, the top 
B E
and bottom of a tower are observed to have
angles of depression 30º and 45º respectively.
The height of the tower is :

(a) 15(1  3 ) m (b) 30( 3  1) m 

A C
 1   1 
(c) 301   m (d) 301   m Then, AB = 25 m. From B draw BE  CD.
 3  3
Let EBD = ACB = .
Sol. Let AB be the building and CD be the tower.
DE AB
B Now, = tan  and = tan 
30º BE AC
DE AB
 = . So, DE = AB
30º BE AC
E D
[ BE = AC]

45º  CD = CE + DE = AB + AB = 2AB = 50m

A C Ex.9 The altitude of the sun at any instant is 60º.
Then, AB = 30 m. Let DC = x. The height of the vertical pole that will cast a
shadow of 30 m is
Draw DE  AB. Then AE = CD = x.
(A) 30 3 m (B) 15 m
 BE = (30 – x) m.
30
AC (C) m (D) 15 2 m
Now, = cot 45º = 1 3
AB
Sol. Let AB be the pole and AC be its shadow.
AC
 = 1  AC = 30 m.
30 Then,  = 60º and AC = 30 m.
 DE = AC = 30 m. B
BE 1 BE 1
= tan 30º =  =
DE 3 30 3
30 60º
 BE = . C A
3
AB
 30   = tan 60º  
  CD = AE = AB – BE =  30   AC
 3
AB
 1     = 3  AB = 30 3 m
= 301   m 30
 3
Ex.10 When the sun is 30º above the horizontal, the Ex.12 The heights of two poles are 80 m and 62.5 m.
length of shadow cast by a building 50m high If the line joining their tops makes an angle of
is- 45º with the horizontal, then the distance
between the poles, is -
50
(A) m (B) 50 3 m (A) 17.5 m (B) 56.4 m
3
(C) 12.33 m (D) 44 m
(C) 25 m (D) 25 3 m
Sol. Let AB and CD be the poles such that
Sol. Let AB be the building and AC be its shadow.
AB = 80 m and CD = 62.5 m.
Then, AB = 50 m and  = 30º.
B
B

45º
D E
30º
C A
AC
 = cot 30º = 3
AB C A
AC Draw DE  AB. Then,
  3
50  EDB = 45º
 AC = 50 3 cm. Now, BE = AB – AE = AB – CD = 17.5
Ex.11 If the elevation of the sun changed from 30º to DE
60º, then the difference between the lengths of = cot 45º = 1
BE
shadows of a pole 15 m high, made at these two
positions, is–  DE = BE = 17.5 m.
(A) 7.5 m (B) 15 m Ex.13 If the angle of elevation of cloud from a point
200 m above a lake is 30º and the angle of
15 depression of its reflection in the lake is 60º,
(C) 10 3 m (D) m
3 then the height of the cloud above the lake, is
AC (A) 200 m (B) 500 m
Sol. When AB = 15m,  = 30º, then = tan30º
AB (C) 30 m (D) None of these
15 Sol. Let C be the cloud and C be its reflection in
 AC = m.
3 the lake.

AC C
When AB = 15m,  = 60º, then = tan60º
AB

 AC = 15 3 m A 30º B
60º
 Diff. in lengths of shadows
 15  L S
= 15 3  
 3
30
= = 10 3 m .
3 C'
 Let CS = CS = x. CN
Also, = sin 
BC 1 OC
Now, = tan 30º =
AB 3 
   CN = OC sin =  cosec sin [Using(i)]
2
AB
 x – 200 =
3 Ex.15 The banks of a river are parallel. A swimmer
starts from a point on one of the banks and
BC' swims in a straight line inclined to the bank at
Also, = tan 60º = 3
AB 45º and reaches the opposite bank at a point 20
m from the point opposite to the starting point.
 x + 200 = (AB) 3 . The breadth of the river is -

x  200 (A) 20 m (B) 28.28 m

 3 ( x  200) = or x = 400.
3 (C) 14.14 m (D) 40 m

 CS = 400 m. Sol. Let A be the starting point and B, the end

point of the swimmer. Then AB = 20 m and
Ex.14 A balloon of radius  makes an angle  at the BAC = 45º.
eye of an observer and the angle of elevation of
its centre is . The height of its centre from the A
ground level is given by : 45º
 
(A)  cos sec  (B)  cos  sec
2 2
C B
 
(C)  sin cos ec (D)  sin  cos ec BC 1
2 2 Now, = sin45º =
AB 2
Sol. Let C be the centre of the balloon and O be the
position of the observer at the horizontal line BC 1
 =
OX. Let OA and OB be the tangents to the 20 2
balloon so that AOB = , XOC =  and
CA = CB = . 20  2
 BC = = 14.14 m.
Clearly, right angled triangles OAC and OBC 2
are congruent. Ex.16 A man on a cliff observes a fishing trawler at
an angle of depression of 30º which is
approaching the shore to the point immediately
B C beneath the observer with a uniform speed. 6
minutes later, the angle of depression of the
A trawler is found to be 60º. The time taken by
the trawler to reach the shore is -

(A) 3 3 min (B) 3 min
 N X
O (C) 1.5 min (D) 3 min

 Sol. Let AB be the cliff and C and D be the two

 AOC = BOC = . positions of the fishing trawler.
2
B
Let CN  OX.
OC 
Now, = cosec
CA 2
 30º 60º
 OC =  cosec ....(i) A
2 C D
 Then, ACB = 30º and ADB = 60º AD
 =1  AD = 150 m.
Let AB = h. 150

AD 1 AC 1 AC 1
Now, = cot 60º =  = cot 60º =  =
AB 3 AB 3 150 3

h 150
   AD = .  AC = = 50 3 = 86.6 m.
3 3

AC  CD = AD – AC = (150 – 86.6) m = 63.4 m

And, = cot 30º = 3
AB Thus, distance covered in 2 min. = 63.4 m

 AC = 3h  Speed of the boat

  63.4 60 
h  2h =   km / hr. = 1.9 km/hr.
CD = AC – AD =  3 h   =  2 1000 
 3 3
Let u m/min be the uniform speed of the Ex.18 A tower is 100 3 metres high. Find the angle
trawler. of elevation of its top from a point 100 metres
away from its foot.
Distance covered in 6 min = 6u metres.
Sol. Let AB be the tower of height 100 3 metres,
2h
 CD = 6u  = 6u  h= 3 3 u and let C be a point at a distance of 100 metres
3 from the foot of the tower.
h 3 3u Let be the angle of elevation of the top of the
Now, AD = = = 3u.
3 3 tower from point C.
B
Time taken by trawler to reach A
distance AD 3u
=  A = = 3 min
speed u 100 3m
Ex.17 A boat is being rowed away from a cliff 150m

high. At the top of the cliff the angle of C A
100 m
depression of the boat changes from 60º to 45º
in 2 minutes. The speed of the boat is – In CAB, we have
(A) 2 km/hr (B) 1.9 km/hr AB
tan =
(C) 2.4 km/hr (D) 3 km/hr AC
Sol. Let AB be the cliff and C and D be the two 100 3
positions of the ship. Then, AB = 150 m,  tan  = = 3
100
ACB = 60º and ADB = 45º.
  = 60º
B
Hence, the angle of elevation of the top of the
tower from a point 100 metres away from its
foot is 60º.
Ex.19 From a point on the ground 40 m away from
45º 60º the foot of a tower, the angle of elevation of the
D C A top of the tower is 30º. The angle of elevation
of the top of a water tank (on the top of the
AD tower) is 45º. Find the (i) height of the tower
Now, = cot 45º = 1
AB (ii) the depth of the tank.
Sol. Let BC be the tower of height h metre and CD Let AE = x and BE = h
be the water tank of height h1 metre.
In ABE, we have
Let A be a point on the ground at a distance of
40 m away from the foot B of the tower. BE h
tan =  tan =
AE x
D
 x = h cot  ....(i)
h1
C In CBE, we have
BE
h tan =
45º CE
30º
A B h
 tan =
ax
BD
In ABD, we have tan 45º =
AB    a + x = h cot 

h  h1  x = h cot – a ....(ii)

 1 =  h + h1 = 40 m ….(i)
40 In DBE, we have
In ABC, we have BE
tan =
BC 1 h DE
tan 30º =  =
AB 3 40 h
 tan =
bx
40 40 3
 h = m= m = 23.1 m    b + x = h cot 
3 3
 x = h cot – b ....(iii)
Substituting the value of h in (i), we get
From equations (i) and (ii), we have
23.1 + h1 = 40
h cot = h cot – a
 h1 = (40 – 23.1)m = 16.9 m
Ex.20 Two stations due south of a leaning tower which  h (cot – cot ) = a
leans towards the north are at distance a and b a
from its foot. If , be the elevations of the top  h = ....(iv)
cot   cot 
of the tower from these stations, prove that its
inclination  to the horizontal is given by From equation (i) and (iii), we get

b cot   a cot  h cot = h cot – b

cot =
ba  h (cot – cot ) = b
Sol. Let AB be the leaning tower and let C and D be b
two given stations at distances a and b  h =
cot   cot 
respectively from the foot A of the tower.
B Equating the values of h from equations (iv)
and (v), we get
a b
=
cot   cot  cot   cot 

 a(cot – cot ) = b(cot – cot )

   (b – a) cot = b cot – a cot 


D a x b cot   a cot 
 cot =
b ba
Ex.21 If the angle of elevation of a cloud from a point  tan   tan   2h
h metres above a lake is  and the angle of  x   =
 tan  tan   tan 
depression of its reflection in the lake is ,
prove that the height of the cloud is 2h tan 
h (tan   tan )  x =
. tan   tan 
tan   tan 
Hence,
Sol. Let AB be the surface of the lake and let P be a
Height of the cloud = x + h
point of observation such that AP = h metres.
Let C be the position of the cloud and C´ be its 2h tan 
reflection in the lake. Then, CB = C´B. Let PM = +h
tan   tan 
be perpendicular from P on CB. Then,
CPM = and MPC´ = Let CM = x. 2h tan   h tan   h tan 
=
C tan   tan 

x
h (tan   tan  )
=
tan   tan 

P M
 Ex.22 There is a small island in the middle of a 100 m
h h wide river and a tall tree stands on the island. P
and Q are points directly opposite to each other
A` B`
on two banks, and in line with the tree. If the
x+h`
angles of elevation of the top of the tree from P
and Q are respectively 30º and 45º, find the
height of the tree.
C`
Sol. Let OA be the tree of height h metre.
Then, CB = CM + MB = CM + PA = x + h.
In triangles POA and QOA, we have
In CPM, we have
OA OA
tan 30º = and tan 45º =
CM OP OQ
tan =
PM
x
 tan = [ PM = AB]
AB
 AB = x cot  ....(i)
In PMC´, we have
C´M
tan =
PM
1 h h
x  2h  = and 1 =
tan = 3 OP OQ
AB
 OP = 3 h and OQ = h
[C´M = C´B + BM = x + h + h]
 AB = (x + 2h) cot  ....(ii)  OP + OQ = 3 h + h PQ = ( 3 + 1)h

From (i) and (ii), we have  100 = ( 3 + 1)h [ PQ = 100 m]

x cot = (x + 2h) cot 
100 100( 3  1)
 h = m h = m
 x(cot – cot ) = 2h cot  3 1 2
 1 1  2h  h = 50(1.732 – 1) m = 36.6 m
 x    =
 tan  tan   tan  Hence, the height of the tree is 36.6 m
Ex.23 The angle of elevation of a cliff from a fixed and, BD = AB – AD = AB – CE
point is . After going up a distance of k metres
= (h – k sin ) ....(v)
towards the top of cliff at an angle of , it is
[Using equation (i)]
found that the angle of elevation is . Show
that the height of the cliff is In BCD, we have
k (cos   sin  cot ) BD h  k sin 
metres tan =  tan =
cot   cot  CD h cot   k cos 
Sol. Let AB be the cliff and O be the fixed point [Using equations (iv) and (v)]
such that the angle of elevation of the cliff from
O is  i.e. AOB = . Let AOC = and 1 h  k sin 
 =
OC = k metres. From C draw CD and CE cot  h cot   k cos 
perpendiculars on AB and OA respectively.
 h cot – k sin cot = h cot – k cos 
Then, DCB = .
   h(cot – cot ) = k(cos – sin cot )
Let h be the height of the cliff AB.
k (cos   sin  cot )
 h =
cot   cot 
Ex.24 At the foot of a mountain the elevation of its
summit is 45º; after ascending 1000 m towards
the mountain up a slope of 30º inclination is
found to be 60º. Find the height of the
mountain.

In OCE, we have Sol. Let F be the foot and S be the summit of the
mountain FOS. Then, OFS = 45º and
CE therefore OSF = 45º. Consequently,
sin =
OC
OF = OS = h km(say).
CE
 sin = Let FP = 1000 m = 1 km be the slope so that 
k OFP = 30º. Draw PM OS and PL OF.
 CE = k sin  ...(i) [CE = AD] Join PS. It is given that MPS = 60º.
 AD = k sin  In FPL, We have
OE S
And, cos =
OC
OE
cos =
k
1000m P 60º
M
OE = k cos   ....(ii)
In OAB, we have
45º 30º
AB F L O
tan =
OA PL
sin 30º =
h PF
 tan =
OA
 1 1
 PL = PF sin 30º = 1   km. = km.
 OA = h cot  ....(iii)  2 2
 CD = EA = OA – OE 1
 OM = PL = km
= h cot – k cos  .....(iv) 2
[Using eqs.(ii) and (iii)]
  1 show that the height of the tower is
 MS = OS – OM =  h   km ….(i) d
 2 .
cot   cot 2 
2
FL
Also, cos 30º =
PF Sol. Let OP be the tower and let A and B be two
points due south and east respectively of the
 3  3 tower such that OAP = and OBP = .
FL = PF cos 30º = 1  km = km
 2   2 Let OP = h. In OAP, we have

Now, h = OS = OF = OL + LF h
tan =
OA
3
 h = OL +  OA = h cot  ....(i)
2
In OBP, we have
 3 
 OL =  h  km
 2  N
 P
 3  h
  PM =  h  km
 2 
 
W O E
B
In PSM, we have
SM A
tan 60º =
PM
S
 SM = PM. tan 60º …..(ii)
h
tan =
 1  3  OB
  h   =  h  3
 2   2   OB = h cot . ....(ii)
[Using equations (i) and (ii)] Since OAB is a right angled triangle.
Therefore,
1 3
 h – =h 3 – AB2 = OA2 + OB2
2 2
 d2 = h2 cot2 + h2 cot2 
 h( 3 – 1) = 1
d
1  h =
   h = cot   cot 2 
2
3 1
[Using (i) and (ii)]
3 1
 h = Ex.26 The elevation of a tower at a station A due
( 3  1) ( 3  1)
north of it is and at a station B due west of A
3 1 is . Prove that the height of the tower is
= AB sin  sin 
2 .
sin 2   sin 2 
2.732
= = 1.336 km
2 Sol. Let OP be the tower and let A be a point due
north of the tower OP and let B be the point
Hence, the height of the mountain is 1.366 km. due west of A. Such that OAP = and
Ex.25 The angle of elevation of the top of a tower OBP = Let h be the height of the tower.
from a point A due south of the tower is and In right angled triangles OAP and OBP, we have
from B due east of the tower is . If AB = d,
 P P

A h
 Q
4000 m
O

45º 60º
B A O
h h
tan = and tan =  Vertical distance between the aeroplanes
OA OB
= PQ = OP – OQ
 OA = h cot and OB = h cot .
 4000  ( 3  1)
In OAB, we have =  4000   m = 4000 m
 3  3
OB2 = OA2 + AB2
= 1690.53 m
 AB2 = OB2 – OA2
 AB2 = h2 cot2 – h2 cot2 
 AB2 = h2 [cot2 – cot2 ]
 AB2 = h2[(cosec2 – 1) – (cosec2 – 1)]
 AB2 = h2(cosec2 – cosec2)
 sin 2   sin 2  
 AB2 = h2  2 2


 sin  sin  
AB sin  sin 
 h =
sin 2   sin 2 

Ex.27 An aeroplane when flying at a height of 4000m

from the ground passes vertically above
another aeroplane at an instant when the angles
of the elevation of the two planes from the
same point on the ground are 60º and 45º
respectively. Find the vertical distance between
the aeroplanes at that instant.
Sol. Let P and Q be the positions of two aeroplanes
when Q is vertically below P and OP = 4000 m.
Let the angles of elevation of P and Q at a point
A on the ground be 60º and 45º respectively.
In triangles AOP and AOQ, we have
OP OQ
tan 60º = and tan 45º =
OA OA
4000 OQ
 3 = and 1 =
OA OA
4000
 OA = and OQ = OA
3
4000
 OQ = m
3
 EXERCISE # 1

Q.1 The ratio of the length of a rod and its shadow Q.9 A, B, C are three collinear points on the
is 1 : 3 . Then find the angle of elevation of ground such that B lies between A and C and
the sun. AB = 10 m. If the angles of elevation of the top
of a vertical tower at C are respectively 30º and
Q.2 Find the angle of elevation of the moon when 60º as seen from A and B, then find the height
the length of the shadow of a pole is equal to its of the tower.
height.
Q.10 If the angles of elevation of a tower from two
Q.3 If the length of shadow of a pole on a level points distant a and b (a > b) from its foot and
ground is twice the length of that pole, then in the same straight line from it are 30º and 60º,
find the angle of elevation of the sun. then find the height of the tower.
Q.4 The angle of elevation of a tower from a Q.11 A vertical tower stands on a horizontal plane
distance 100 m from its foot is 30º. Find the and is surmounted by a vertical flagstaff of
height of the tower.
height h. At a point on the plane, the angle of
Q.5 In a rectangle, if the angle between a diagonal elevation of the bottom of the flagstaff is  and
and a side is 30º and the length of diagonal is that of the top of the flagstaff is . Find the
6 cm, then find the area of the rectangle. height of the tower.
Q.6 The angles of elevation of an aeroplane flying
Q.12 A straight tree breaks due to storm and the
vertically above the ground as observed from
broken part bends so that the top of the tree
two consecutive stones 1 km apart are 45º and
touches the ground making an angle of 30º with
60º. Find the height of the aeroplane above the
ground in km. the ground. The distance from the foot of the
tree to the point where the top touches the
Q.7 On the level ground, the angle of elevation of a
ground is 10 metres. Find the height of the tree.
tower is 30º. On moving 20 m nearer, the angle
of elevation is 60º. Then find the height of the Q.13 From the top of a light house, the angles of
tower. depression of two ships on the opposite sides of
Q.8 The length of a string between a kite and a it are observed to be  and . If the height of
point on the ground is 90 m. The string makes the light house be h metres and the line joining
an angle of 60º with the level ground. If there the ships passes through the foot of the light
is no slack in the string. Find the height of the house, find the distance between the ships.
kite.

ANSWER KEY
100 3 3
1. 30º 2. 45º 3. 90º 4. m 5. 9 3 cm2 6.
3 2
h tan 
7. 10 3 m 8. 45 3 m 9. 5 3 m 10. ab 11.
tan   tan 
h (tan   tan )
12. 10 3 m 13.
tan  tan 
 EXERCISE # 2
Q.1 The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a Q.8 A pole 5 m high is fixed on the top of a tower.
point A on the ground is 60º. After a flight of The angle of elevation of the top of the pole
15 seconds, the angle of elevation changes to observed from a point A on the ground is 60º
30º. If the jet plane is flying at a constant height and the angle of depression of the point A from
of 1500 3 m, find the speed of the jet plane. the top of the tower is 45º. Find the height of
the tower.
Q.2 Determine the height of a mountain if the
elevation of its top at an unknown distance Q.9 An electric pole is 10 metres high. If its

from the base is 45º and at a distance 10 km shadow is 10 3 metres in length, find the
further off from the mountain, along the same elevation of the sun.
line, the angle of elevation is 30º.
Q.10 The angle of elevation of the top of a tower,
(Use tan 30º = 0.5774). from a point on the ground and at a distance of
30 m from its foot, is 30°. Find the height of
Q.3 The angles of elevation of the top of a rock
the tower.
from the top and the foot of a 100 m high tower
are 30º and 45º respectively. Find the height of Q.11 From a point P on the level ground, the angle of
the rock. elevation of the top of a tower is 30°. If the
tower is 100 m high, how far is P from the foot
Q.4 A man on the deck of a ship is 16m above
water level. He observes that the angle of of tower? Take 3 = 1.732
elevation of the top of a cliff is 45º and the Q.12 A kite is flying at a height of 60 metres from
angle of depression of the base is 30º. Calculate the level ground, attached to a string inclined at
the distance of the cliff from the ship and the 60° to the horizontal. Find the length of the
height of the cliff. string.
Q.5 From the top of a cliff 50 m high, the angles of Q.13 A circus artist is climbing a 20 m long rope,
depression of the top and bottom of a tower are which is tightly stretched and tied from the top
observed to be 30º and 45º respectively. Find of a vertical pole to the ground. Find the height
the height of the tower. of the pole, if the angle made by the rope with
Q.6 An aeroplane, when 3000m high, passes the ground level is 30°.
vertically above another aeroplane at an instant
Q.14 If the length of a shadow cast by a pole be 3
when the angles of elevation of the two
times the length of the pole, find the angle of
aeroplanes from the same point on the ground
elevation of the sun.
are 60º and 45º respectively. Find the vertical
distance between the aeroplanes at that instant. Q.15 A river is 60 m wide. A tree of unknown height
is on one bank. The angle of elevation of the
Q.7 The angle of elevation of the top of a hill at the
top of the tree from the point exactly opposite
foot of a tower is 60º and the angle of elevation
to the foot of the tree, on the other bank, is 30°.
of the top of the tower from the foot of the hill
Find the height of the tree.
is 30º. If the tower is 50m high, what is the
height of the hill ?
Q.16 An electrician has to repair an electric fault on Q.19 The horizontal distance between two towers is
a pole of height 5 m. He needs to reach a point 140 m. The angle of elevation of the top of the
1.3 m below the top of the pole to undertake the first tower when seen from the top of the
second tower is 30°. If the height of the second
repair work (as shown in the adjoining figure).
tower is 60 m, find the height of the first tower.
What should be the length of the ladder that he
Q.20 A girl, 1.6 m tall, is 20 m away from a tower
should use which, when inclined at an angle of
and observes that the angle of elevation of the
60° to the horizontal, would enable him to
top of the tower is 60°. Find the height of the
reach the required position? Also, how far from
tower. Take 3 = 1.73
the foot of the pole should he place the foot of
Q.21 An observer 1.5 m tall is 28.5 m away from a
the ladder? Take 3 = 1.73
chimney. The angle of elevation of the top of
A the chimney from his eye is 45°. What is the
height of the chimney?
1.3m
Q.22 From a point on the ground, the angles of
B
elevation of the bottom and the top of a
transmission tower fixed at the top of a 20 m
5m

Ladder high building are 45° and 60° respectively.

Find the height of the tower.
Q.23 From a point P on the ground the angle of
60º elevation of the top of a 10 m tall building is
C
30°. A flag is hoisted at the top of the building
Q.17 A bridge across a river makes an angle of 45° and the angle of elevation of the top of the
with the river bank. If the length of the bridge flagstaff from P is 45°. Find the length of the
flagstaff and the distance of the building from
across the river is 200 metres, what is the
breadth of the river? the point P. (Take 3 = 1.732)

Q.24 A statue, 1.6 m tall, stands on the top of a

pedestal. From a point on the ground, the angle
of elevation of the top of the statue is 60° and
from the same point the angle of elevation of
River Bridge the top of the pedestal is 45°. Find the height of
200 m the pedestal.
45º Q.25 From a point P on the ground, the angle of
elevation of the top of a 10 m tall building and
a helicopter, hovering over the top of the
building, are 30° and 60° respectively. Find the
Q.18 The upper part of a tree broken by wind, falls to
height of the helicopter above the ground.
the ground without being detached. The top of
the broken part touches the ground at an angle Q.26 The angle of elevation of the top of a building
from the foot of a tower is 30° and the angle of
of 30° at a point 8 m from the foot of the tree.
elevation of the top of the tower from the foot
Calculate (i) the height at which the tree is
of the building is 60°. If the tower is 50 m high,
broken. (ii) the original height of the tree. find the height of the building.
Q.27 A T.V. tower stands vertically on a bank of a Q.33 Two pillars of equal height stand on either side
canal. From a point on the other bank directly of a roadway which is 80 m wide. At a point in
opposite the tower, the angle of elevation of the the road between pillars, the elevations of the
top of the tower is 60°. From another point 20 pillars are 60° and 30°. Find the height of the
m away from this point on the line joining this pillars and the position of the point.
point to the foot of tower, the angle of elevation Q.34 In the adjoining figure, from the top of a
of the top of the tower is 30°. Find the height of building AB, 60 metres high, the angles of
the tower and the width of the canal. depression of the top and the bottom of a
Q.28 The angle of elevation of the top of a tower vertical lamp post CD are observed to be 30°
and 60° respectively. Find (i) the horizontal
from a point A (on the ground) is 30°. On
distance between AB and CD. (ii) the height of
walking 50 m towards the tower, the angle of
the lamp post CD.
elevation is found to be 60°. Calculate: (i) the
height of the tower (correct to one decimal A
place), (ii) the distance of the tower from A. 30º
60º
Q.29 As observed from the top of a 75 m high C
lighthouse from the sea-level, the angles of
depression of two ships are 30° and 45°. If one
ship is exactly behind the other on the same
side of the lighthouse, find the distance
between the two ships. B D

Q.30 From the top of a cliff 150 m high, the angles Q.35 The angles of depression of the top and the
of depression of two boats are 60° and 30°. bottom of an 8 m tall building from the top of a
Find the distance between the boats, if the boats multi-storied building are 30° and 45°
are (i) on the same side of cliff. (ii) on the respectively. Find the height of the multi-
opposite sides of the cliff. storied building and the distance between the
two buildings.
Q.31 The shadow of a tower standing on a level
ground is found to be 40 m longer when the Q.36 The angle of elevation of the top of an
unfinished tower at a point distant 120 m from
sun's altitude is 30° than when it is 60°. Find
its base is 45°. How much higher must the
the height of the tower.
tower be raised so that its angle of elevation at
Q.32 The shadow of a vertical tower on level ground the same point may be 60°?
increases by 10 m, when the altitude of the sun
Q.37 From the top of a 7 m high building, the angle
changes from 45° to 30°. Using the given
of elevation of the top of a cable tower is 60°
figure, find the height of the tower correct to
and the angle of depression of its foot is 45°.
1
of a metre. Determine the height of the tower.
10
Q.38 A window in a building is at a height of 10m
from the ground. The angle of depression of a
point P on the ground from the window is 30º.
The angle of elevation of the top of the building
30º 45º from the point P is 60º. Find the height of the
10 m building.
Q.39 The angle of elevation of the top of a tower Q.40 A boy standing on a horizontal plane finds a
from a point on the same level as the foot of the bird flying at a distance of 100 m from him at
tower is 30º. On advancing 150 meters towards an elevation of 30º. A girl standing on the roof
the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of 20 metre high building finds the angle of
becomes 60º. Find the height of the tower. elevation of the same bird to be 45º. Both the
boy and the girl are on opposite sides of the
bird. Find the distance of the bird from the girl.

ANSWER KEY
1. 720 km/hr 2. 13.66 km 3. 236.6 m 4. 27.712m ; 43.712 m 5. 21.13 m

6. 1268 m 7. 150 m 8. 6.83 m 9. 30º 10. 10 3

11. 173.2 m 12. 40 3 13. 10 m 14. 30º 15. 20 3 m

8
16. 4.28 m ; 2.14 m 17. 141.4 m 18.(i) 3 m ; (ii) 8 3 m 19. 140.83 m
3

20. 36.2 m 21. 30 m 22. 20( 3  1) m 23. 7.32 m ; 17.32 m 24. 0.8( 3  1) m

2
25. 30 m 26. 16 m 27. 10 3 m ; 10 m 28. (i) 43.3 m ; (ii) 75 m 29. 50 3 m
3

30. (i) 173.2 m ; (ii) 346.4 m 31. 20 3 m 32. 13.7 m

33. 20 3 m, 20 m from the pillar whose angle of elevation is 60º

34. (i) 34.64 m ; (ii) 40 m 35. 4(3  3 ) m ; 4(3  3 ) 36. 87.84 m

37. 7 ( 3  1) m 38. 30 m 39. 75 3 m 40. 30 2 m