1. If sun’s elevation is 45°. Find the length of the shadow of a pole of height 8 m.

In rt. Δ PQR, ∠B=90° and ∠QPR=45°

∴ tan 45° = QRPQ

1 = 8PQ

⇒AB=81 = 8m

2. A pole 8 metre high cast a shadow 8 m on the ground. Find the sun’s elevation.

In rt. Δ PQR, ∠B=90°

∴ PQ = 8 m

QR = 8 m

Let ∠QPR=θ

∴ tan θ = QRPQ

= QRPQ = 1

θ = 45°

3. If the angle of elevation of the top of a hill from two points at distances p and q from the base and in the same straight line with it are complementary. Find the height of the hill.

Let   PQ = h be the height of the hill,

QR = b, QS = a, such that ∠PSQ=θ

⇒∠PRQ=90°−θ

In rt. Δ PQS, we have

ha=tan θ

h = a tan θ          …..(1)

In rt. Δ PQR, we have

hb=tan(90°−θ) = cot θ

h = b cot θ         …..(2)

Multiplying (1) and (2), we get

h2 = ab tan θ cot θ = ab

⇒h=ab−−√

4. From the figure, find the angle of depression of point Z from the point R.

∠YRS=∠XYR (alternative.int. ∠a )

⇒∠YRS = 60°

⇒∠ZRS+∠YRZ=60° ⇒∠ZRS+30°=60° ⇒∠ZRS=30°

5. Find the angle of elevation of the moon when the shadow of a tree h metres high is 3–√h metres long.

The height of the pole be h m and length of its shadow is 3–√h

Let θ be the elevation of the sun.

Consider rt.agl Δ ABC

tan θ = h3√h=13√

= tan 30°

⇒   θ = 30°

 6. A ladder 14 metres long just reaches the top of a wall. If the ladder makes an angle of 45° with the wall, find the height of the wall.

Here, length of the ladder is 14m and angle of elevation is 90°-45°=45°.

Let h m be the height of the wall

Consider rt.agl Δ PQR

QRPR = sin 30°

h14=2√2

h = 142√2 m

∴ The length of the wall is 72–√

 7. An observer 1.8 m tall is 20.8 m away from a tower 22.6 m high. Determine the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the eye of the observer.

Here, PQ be the observer and RS be the tower of height 24 m.

PQ = TS = 1.8 m

RT = RS – TS

= 22.6 – 1.8

= 20.8 m

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔPTR, we have

RTAT = tan θ

20.820.8 = tan θ

1 = tan θ

tan 45° = tan θ

θ =45°

8.From a balloon vertically above a straight road, the angles of depression of two cars at an instant is found to be 45° and 60°. If the car are 100 m apart, find the height of the balloon.

Let the height of the balloon at P be h metres. Let A and B be the two cars. Thus, AB = 100m.

∠ PAQ= 45° and ∠ PBQ=60°

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔAQP,

PQAQ = tan 45°

⇒         PQAQ = 1

⇒         PQ = AQ= h m

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔPBQ,

PQBQ = tan 60°

PQBQ = 3–√

hh−100 = 3–√

h = 3–√h−3–√(100)

(3–√−1)h = 3–√(100)

h = 3√(100)3√−1

h = 3√(100)3√−1 ×3√+13√+1

h = 3√(100)(3√+1)2

= 50(3+3–√)

 9. The shadow of a tower on a level surface is 40 m long when moon’s elevation is 30° then when it is 60°.Find the height of the tower.

XY=40 m, ∠RXS =30°, ∠RYS = 60°

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔRYS

RYSY = tan 60°

⇒         RYSY = 3–√

⇒                                   h = 3–√ SY

Consider rt.agl ΔRXQ

RXSX = tan 30°

⇒    RXXY+YS = 13√

⇒    h40+YS     = 13√

⇒    3–√h = 40 + YS

⇒    3–√h = 40 + h3√

3h = 403–√ + h

2h = 403–√

h = 203–√

∴ The height of the tower is 203–√ m

10. From the top of a tree h m high, the angle of depression of two objects, which are in the line with foot of the tree are γ and δ (δ> γ). Find the distance between the two objects.

Let RS be the tree of height h m, X and Y are two objects such that

∠RXS = γ , ∠RYS = δ

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔYSR

RSYS = tan δ

⇒    RS = YS tan δ     …..(i)

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔXSR

RSXS = tan γ

⇒ RSXY+YS = tan γ

⇒         RS = (XY+YS) tan γ     …..(ii)

⇒ htanγ = XY + RStanδ     [using (i)]

⇒ h cot γ = XY + h cot δ

⇒

XY = h (cot γ + cot δ)

11. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from two distinct points x and y from its foot are complementary. Prove that the height of the tower is xy−−√.

Let h m be the height of the tower PQ. X and Y are two distinct points from its foot, such that PX = x and PY = y

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔXQP, we obtain

PQPX = tan θ

hx = tan θ

h = x tan θ     …..(i)

Consider rt.agl ΔYQP, we obtain

PQPY = tan (90°−θ)

hy = cot θ

h = y ×1tanθ   …..(ii)

Multiply (I) and (ii), we get

h2 = x tan θ ×y×1tanθ = xy

h = xy−−√

∴ The height of the tower is xy−−√.

12. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from certain point at 30°. If the observer moves 10 m towards the tower, the angle of elevation of the top increases by 15° . Find the height of the tower.

Let h m be the height of the tower RS and P, Q are two points 10 m apaet, such that

∠SPR=30°and∠SQR=45°.

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔQRS

SRQR = tan 45°

⇒                  SR = QR = h m

Now, Consider rt.agl ΔPRS

SRPR = tan 30°

⇒ h10+h = 13√

⇒         3–√ h = 10 + h

(3–√−1) h = 10

⇒ h = 103√−1×3√+13√+1 = 10(3√+1)2

∴ The height of the tower is 5(3–√+1)

13. The angle of elevation of the top of a vertical tower from a point on the groung is 60°. From another point 10 m vertically above the first, its angle of elevation is 45°. Find the height of the tower.

Let XY be the vertical tower of height h m.

C and D are two points 10 m apart such that,

CD = ZY = 10 m ∠XCZ=45°and∠XBY=60°

XZ = XY – ZY = (h – 10) m

Consider rt.agl ΔDYX

XYDY = tan 60°

hDY = 3–√

⇒ DY = h3√

Consider rt.agl ΔCZX

XZCZ = tan 45°

XZ = CZ

H – 10 = h3√

h (1−13√) = 10

h(3√−13√) = 10

h = 103√3√−1×3√+13√+1

= 103√3√−1×3√+13√+1

= 5(3 + 3–√)m

14. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower 27 m high from the foot of another tower in the same plane is 60° and the angle of elevation of the top of the second tower from the foot of the first tower is 30°. Find the distance between the two towers and the height of the other tower.

Let us assume that PQ and RS be the two tower of height  h m and 27 m respectively.

∠RQS = 60° ∠PSQ = 30°

Consider rt.agl ΔRQS

RSQS = tan 60°

27QS = 3–√

⇒ QS = 273√     …..(i)

Consider rt.agl ΔPSQ

PQQS = tan30°

⇒ hQS = 13√

⇒   3–√ h = QS     …..(ii)

From (i) and (ii), we have

3–√ h = 273√

⇒ h = 273 = 9 m

From (ii), we get QS = 93–√ m

∴ The distance between two towers is 93–√ m and the height of  the other tower is 9 m.

15. The lower window of a house is at a height of 3 m above the ground and its upper window is 6 m vertically above the lower window. At certain instant the angles of elevation of a balloon from these windows are observed to be 60° and 30° respectively. Find the height of the balloon from the ground.

Let P and Q be the positions of two windows of a house, such that PR = 3 m, QR = 9 m. Let U be the position of balloon of height h m above the ground. ∠UPS = 60°, ∠UQT = 30°, US = h – 3 and UT = h – 9

Consider rt.agl ΔQTU

UTQT = tan 30º

h – 9 = QT ×13√

⇒ 3–√ (h – 8) = QT      …..(i)

Consider rt.agl ΔUPS

USPS = tan 60º

h – 3 = PS ×3–√

⇒  h−33√ = PS      …..(ii)

Also, QT = PS     …..(iii)

From (i), (ii) and (iii), we get

3–√ (h – 9) = h−33√

⇒  3h -27 = h – 3

⇒   3h – h = 27 – 3

⇒   2h = 24

⇒    h = 12

∴ height of the balloon above the ground is 12 m.

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