llustrative Examples

Example 1, Atower stands vertically on the ground.From a

point on the
the top ground
15 maway from the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of
found to be 60. Find the height of the tower. of which
Solution, Let MP be the tower of height hmetres and O be the tower a
the point on the ground 15 m away from the foot of tower.
Then, the angle of elevation MOP = 60° (given).
In AOMP, ZOMP= 90°.
From AOMP, we get
MP
tan 60°=
OM 15
60
h =15 x V3 = 15 x 1-732 = 25.98
Hence, the height of the tower = 25.98 m. 15 m
Example 2. Acircus artist is climbing a 20 mlong rope, which is tightly
from the top of a vertical pole to the ground. Find the height of the stretched
pole, if thand tied
made by the rope with the ground level is 30°. e angje
Solution. Let BC be the vertical pole and AB be the rope
which is tightly stretched and tied from the top of pole
to the ground, then 20
m

AB = 20 m.
Let h metres be the height of the vertical pole BC.
30
Then, angle of elevation = BAC = 30° (given).
From right angled AABC, we get
BC 1
sin 30° = ’h= 10.
AB 2 20
Hence, the height of the pole is 10 m.
Example 3. Akite is flying at a height of 60 metres from the level ground, attached to a
string inclined at 60 to the horizontal. Find the length of the string.
Solution. Let P be the kite and MP =60metres, the height of Kite P
the kite. Let the string be held at the point O, then MOP
= 60° (given) and OP is the length of the string.
From right-angled A0OMP,
sin 60° = MP 60
OP 2 OP
2
OP = x60 = 40 J3 = 40 x 1-732 = 69-28 60%

M
Ground
Hence, the length of the string = 69-28 m.
ofthe pole
Example 4, If the length of ashadow cast by a pole be /3 times the length
find the angle of elevation of the sun.
Solution. Let MP be the pole, then its shadow
= OM = N3 MP (according to given).
Let MOP = 0, the angle of elevation of the sun.
M
SHADOW

478 UNDERSTANDING ICSE MATHEMATICS-X

 right-angled AOMP, we get
From
MP
tan = but OM = V3 MP
OM
MP 1
tan = V3 M P t a n 30
0 = 30
Hence,the angle of elevation of the sun = 30
Erample5, A
tree breaks due to storm and the brokern part bends (without being
of the tree touches the ground
thatthe top
the tree making an angle of 30 with it. Thedetached)
touches the ground is 8distance
between the foot of to the point where the top
height of the tree. m. Find
the
Soution,Let ACB be the
tree. When broken at
touch the ground so that
point Cby the
storm, let its top A CAB = 30°
m.
andAB = 8
From rightangled
AABC, we get
1 BC
tan 30°= BC
AB 8m

BC = m.

AB W3 8m 16
Also cos 30° = AC 2 ’ AC= m.
AC
8 16
30
The height of tree = BC + AC= 8m

16 24
a m=m = 8/3 m = 8 x 1-732 m = 13-856 m
Hence, the height of the tree is 13-86 m (approx.).
Example 6. An observer 1:5 m tall is 28-5 m away from a chimney. The angle of
of the top of the chimney from his eye is 45°. What is the elevation
height of the chimney?
Solution. Let CD be an observer of height 1-5 m which is 28-5 m away from a
of height h metres. chimney AB
CD = 1-5 m and DB = 28-5 m.
From C, draw CE 1 AB, then CDBE is a rectangle.
AE = AB - BE = AB CD = (h- 15) m
and CE = DB = 28-5 m.
Given, angle of elevation ACE = 45°.
45
From right angled AACE, we get
tan 45 = AE
1= h-1-5
CE 28-5 28-5 m
h-1-5 =28-5 h=30.
Hence, the height of the chimney =30 m.
Example 7, The angle of elevation of the top of ahil at the foot of the tower is 60° and the
angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the foot of the hill is 30°, If the tower
is 20 m
high, find
(0) the height of
the hill (ii) the distance between the hill and the tower.

Heights and Distances 479

Solution, Let AB = h metres be the height of the hill and CD be the
the distance
CD = 20 metres (given). Let BD = x metres be between the foottowerof , then
and the foot of the tower. Then the hil
ZADB = 60 and ZCBD = 30° (given).
From right angled AABD, we get
tan 60° =
AB V3 =h
BD

h= V3x ..(1)
From right angled ACBD, we get
1 20
tan 30°= CD
BD V3
B
x = 20/3 ..2)
(i) Substituting the value of x from (2) in (1), we get
h= v3 (20 /3) = 60.
The height of the hill = 60 metres.
(ii) From (2), x = 20 N3 = 20 x 1-732 = 34-64
. The distance between the hill and the tower = 34-64 metres.
Example 8. Astatue, 16 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 anola
of elevation of the top of the pedestal is 45°. ind the height of the pedestal.
Solution. Let AB be the pedestal and BC be the statue which stands on the top of pedestal
and O be the point of observation on the ground, BC = 16 m.
Let AB = hmetres and OA = d metres.
Given AOB = 45° and ZAOC = 60°
From right angled AOAB, we get
AB h
tan 45°= ’1= d=h ..()
OA 1-6 m

From right angled AOAC, we get

h+1-6 B
tan 60° = AC ’ V3 =
OA

/3d = h + 1-6 ’ V3h- h= 1-6 (using ())

h metres
1-6
W3 - 1)h = 1-6 ’ h= V3-1
1-6 J3+1 1-6
h= X
V3 + 1) = (08) (V3 + 1) A
3-1 V3 -1 d metres

= 0-8 x (1-732 + 1) = 0-8 x 2-732 = 2-19 (approx).

Hence, the height of the pedestal = 2-19 m (approx).
Example 9. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points P and Qat
distances of a and b respectively from the base and in the same straight line with it are

complementary. Prove that the height of the tower is Vab.

Solution. Let AB be the tower of height h (units).
AP = a, QA = b.
As the angles of elevation are
ZAPB = ° then ZAQB = 90° - °.complementary, if
90°-0°
A

480 UNDERSTANDING ICSE MATHEMATICS-X

 angled ABPA, we get
From
right
h
tan

From
rightangled ABOA, we get
an(90°-0) cot 9 h
i)
Multiplying ) and (i), we get
9° hh
tan 0 cot ab
=ab h Vab
Hence, the height of the tower is Vab units. (:h> 9)
standing on the bank
Example10, Aperson of a river
of the
top of a tree standing on the
finds that the angle of opposite bank observes that the
is 60, When he angle of elevation
fromthe bank he
and elevation to be 30, Calculatemoves
:
50m away
o the width of the river (ii) the height of the tree.
Let AB =h metres be the
Solution, height of the tree and CB =X
theriver. metres be the breadth of
be
Let C the first position of the man, and D be
bank, then the position after
s0 metres away from the moving
DC = 50 m,
LACB = 60° and ZADB =30°.
From right-angled AACB, we get
AB
tan 60°= V3 = h
CB

h= /3 x ..(1)
From right-angled AADB, we get
AB 1 50 m
tan 30° =
DB J3 50+X
V3 h = 50 + x
()Substituting the value of h from (1) in (2), we get ..2)
V3(V3x) = 50 + x ’ 3x = 50 + x
2x = 50 ’ x= 25.
. The breadth of the
river = 25 metres.
(ü) From (1), we get h = J3 x 25 m= 1-732 x
25 m = 43-3 m.
. The height of the tree =
43-3 metres.
mple 11, An aeroplane at an altitude of 1500 metres
towards it in the same direction. The angles of finds that two ships are sailing
are 45° and 30° respectively. Find the depression as observed from the aeroplane
distance between the two ships. (2016)
olution, Let Pbe the position of the
at an
altitude of 1500 m, aeroplane HORIZONTAL
then MP = 1500 m. 45

Let A
ships andangles
whose
Bbe the
positions of the two
of depression as observed
1500
m

are 30° and 45°

PAM =30° and
/PBM = respectively,
45":
then
45

A B M

Heights and Distances 481

 From right angled APBM,
MP 1500 BM=1500.
tan 45o = 1=
BM BM

From right angled APAM,

tan 30o =
MP 1 1500 AM = 1500 J3.
AM AM
1500 = 1500( J3 -1)
From figure, AB = AM - BM = 1500 V3 -
= 1500 (1-732 - 1) = 1500 x 0-732 = 1098.
Hence, the distance between the ships = 1098 metres.
Example 12. The shadow of a tower standing on a level ground is found to be
when the sun's altitude is 30° than when it is 60°. Find the height of the to.40 m longer
Solution. Let the height of the tower BD be h metres and the
altitude
length of its shadow be d metres when the sun's
i.e. elevation is 60°, When the sun's altitude is 30°, then
the length of shadow of the tower is 40 m longer
i.e. BD = h metres, AB = d metres and CA= 40 metres. 300 60

From right angled AABD, we get 40 m A d B

tan 60° = " ’ h= 3d ...)

From right angled ABCD, we get

1 /3d
tan 30° =
40 + d 3 40 +d (using ()
3d = 40 + d ’ 2d = 40 d= 20.
From (), h = 20 /3 = 20 x 1-732 = 34-64
Hence, the height of the tower is 34-64 metres.
Example 13. From the top of a cliff 150 m high, the angles of depression of two boats are
60° and 30°. Find the distance between the boats, if the boats are
(i) on the same side of the cliff (ii) on the opposite sides of the cliff.
Solution. Let AB = 150 m be the height of the cliff and let C, D be the two boats, then
ZACB = 60° and ADB = 30°.
A HORIZONTAL
HORIZONTAL A
300
60N30
CLIFF

60 60°
T30 30°
D
D C B B
BOATS ON SAME SIDE BOATS ON OPPOSITESIDES

() (i)
clif),
In both cases (boats on same side of the cliff or boats on opposite sides ofthe
from right-angled AACB, we get
AB ’ 3-150
tan 60° =
CB CB
.(1)
150
CB = =50/3

482 UNDERSTANDING ICSE MATHEMATICS-X

 isght-angled AABD, we get
From
AB 1 150
tan 30° =
DB J3 DB
DB = 150 /3
...2)
Boatson the same side of the clif.
(0
the boats = DB - CB
Distance between
= (150 N3 -50 W3 ) m = 100 x 3 (From figure ()
m
= 100 >x 1-732 m = 173-2 m.
Boats on the opposite sides of the clif.
Distance between the boats = CB + BD
= (50 W3 + 150 V3 ) m = 200 x V3 m (From figure (i)
= 200 x 1-732 m =
346-4 m.
Example14, From the top of a light house 100 m
high
ho angles of depression of two ships on opposite sides 49

t ane 48° and 36° respectively. Find the distance

between the two shups to the nearest metre. (2010)
Golution. ABD = 48° and ACD =36°
From right angled AABD,
cot 48° = BD
AD
BD = AD cot 48°
From right angled AACD,
cot 36° = BD
AD 36
B
DC= AD cot 36° C
: The distance between the two ships = BD+ DC
= AD cot 48° + AD cot 36°
= AD (cot (90°- 42°) + cot (90°- 54°)
= AD (tan 42° + tan 549)
= 100 x (0-9004 + 1-3764) metres
= 100 >x 2-2768 metres = 227-68 metres
= 228 metres (to the nearest metre).
bample 15. Two lamp posts AB and CD, each of A

height 100 mare on the either side of the road. P

sapoint on the road between the lamp
posts. The
angles of elevation of the top of the lamp
u 100 m
00L
from the point P posts
PB and PD. are 60 and 40°. Find the distances 40 609

(2022)
Solution. In AABP, tan 40° = AB
PB
100 = 100 cot 40°
PB =
tan 40°

= 100 cot (90 - 50) = 100 tan 50°

= 100 x (1-1918) = 119-18
Hence, PB = 119-18 m

Heights and Distances 483

 CD
From ACDP, tan 60° =
PD
100 100 100/3
J3= PD = J 3
PD
100 x 1-732 173-2 = 57:74
PD =
3 3

Hence, PD = 57-74 m
a
Example 16. Agirl 1-5 mtall is standing at some distance from 30 mhigh
angle of elevation from her eye to the top of the tower increase from 30° tower. The
to 60° as she
walks towards the tower. Find the distance she walked towards the tower
Solution. Let AB be the tower and GE represent the girl when the angle of elevation is 30°;
and DF be the position of girl when the angle of elevation is 60°.
Let GD =X metres and DC=ymetres
BC = AB - AC = AB GE
= (30 1-5) m =28-5 m.
BC 28-5
From ABDC, tan 60° = ’ /3 = ...()
DC
BC 1 28-5 30° 609
From ABGC, tan 30 = ...(i)
From (i) and (ii), we get
xty
G

E
|1.5 m
Dc A

V3 xY28.5 x+y
1 28-5
’ 3=
x+y

28-5
3y =x t y ’ I = 2y ’ X=2 x (using (0)
57
X= ’x=19 \3 > x = 19 x 1:732 = 32:908
Distance walked by the girl towards tower = 32:9 metres (approx.).
Example 17, In the figure given alongside, from the top of a building A
AB, 60 metres high, the angles of depression of the top and
bottom of a vertical lamp post CD are observed to be 30° and 60°
respectively. Find :
() the horizontal distance between AB and CD.
(i) the height of the lamp post. (2013)
Solution. (i) Let d metres be the horizontal distance between AB and CD. B
As the angle of depression of the bottom of the lamp post CD when observed from the
top of building AB is 60°,
ZADB = 60° HORIZONTAL
From right angled AABD, 309

60°

AB
tan 60° = ’ 3= 60 30
BD d E
d = 20 /3
d = 20 x 1-732 = 34-64
...()
Hence, the horizontal distance between AB and
CD =34-64 metres.

60

484 UNDERSTANDING ICSE MATHEMATICS-X

 metresbe the height of lamp post CD.
Let h draw CE L AB. Then
From C =d metres and
BD =
EC= AB - CD=
AE =
AB-EB = (60-h) metres,
Astheangle f depression
eof of the top of the lanP post CD when observed frorn Ais3 , so
ACE
= 30
AAEC.
angled
Fromright AE 1 60-h
tan 30°=
EC
60-h
1
20N3 (using ()
’ h = 40
20 = 60 -h
Hence,the height of the lamp post is 40 metres.
Example 18. The angle of elevation of the top of a hill at the foot of a tower is 60
and the
angle of depression from the top of the tower of the foot of the hill is 30. If the
s50 m high, find the height of the hill.
tower
Solution. Let AB be the tower and CD be the hill. AB = 50 m(given).
The angles of elevation and depression are shown in the figure.
Then CBD = 60° and ZADB = 30°.
From right angled ACDB,
CD CD
tan 60° = ’ /3 =
BD BD ...(1)
From right angled AABD,
AB 1 AB
tan 30= ...(i)
BDJ3 BD
Dividing () by (i), we get
V3x V3CD BD ’ 3 = CD
1
BD AB AB
CD =3AB CD = (3 x 50) m = 150 m.
Hence, the height of the hill = 150 m.
ample 19. The angles of elevation and depression of the top and the
toWer from the top of a building, 60 m high, are 30° and 60° bottom of a
difference between the height of the building and tower and the respectively.
distance Findthem
between the
(use 3 = 1-732).
Solution, Let AB be the building and CD bethe tower. AB =60 m(given).
AN is horizontal, so
ABDN is a rectangle.
The angles of elevation
figure. Note that and depression are shown in the
ZCAN = 30° and ZADB = 60°.
From right angled
tan 60 = AB
AABD,
60 m
BD V3 =
BD
BD = 60
m = 20 N3 m
= (20
x1-732) m = 34-64 m.
Heights and Distances 485
 From right angled ACAN,
CN
tan 30°= ( AN
AN
CN CN 20 m.
A 2043 m heights of building and tower CN 20 m
The difference between the
3464 m.
and distance between them = BD
Example 20, A man standing on the deck of a ship, which is 10 mabove the watet levd,
observes the angle of elevation of the top of a hill as 6 and the angle of depresien
of the base of the hill as 30°. Calculate the distance of the hill frorm the ship and he

height ofLet
Solution. hill. be the deck of the ship and the man be standing at A, fhen
the AB

AB = 10metres.
the height of the hill
Let CD =hmetres be between the hill and the ship.
xmetres be the distance
and BD =
then
From A, draw ANICD, rmetre
10 metres and CN = (h- 10)
AN = DB = I metres, ND = AB =
60.
Given NAD = 30° and ZCAN =
From right-angled AAND, we get
ND 1 10
tan 30 =
AN
1732
I =103 = 10x 1-732 =
distance between the hill and the ship = 17-32 metres.
: The
get
From right-angled ACNA, we
h-10 A-h-10
tan 60°=
AN

h- 10 = 3x ’h- 10 =
3 (1043)
h= 10 + 30 =40.
40 metres.
- The height of the hill =
21, The horizontal distance between two towers is
Example
of the top and angle of depression
120 m. The angles of elevation
tower as observed from the
second
of the bottorn of the first
tower are 30 and 24° respectively.
Give your answer correct to
Find the height of the two towers. (2015) metres
3 significant figures. x metres and y
AB and CD be
Solution, Let the height of the two towers
respectively
Given BD = 120 metres
FC= 120 metres.
From figure, EB = CD = y metres and
AE = AB- EB = AB- CD = (-y) metres.
From right angled AECB,
tan 24°= 04452= 120
EC
y= 20 04452 53424
 AAEC,
Fnm rightangled
AE
tan30°= 05774
EC 120
A-y=120 x 0-5774 69-288
r= 69.288 + = 69-288 + 53-442
I=122.73
Hence,the height of the tower AB correct to 3
heisghtof the
tower CD significant figures is 123 metres and the
correct to 3significant figures is 53-4 metres.
Aample Aboy
22, standing on the ground finds a bird flying at a distance of
an elevation of 30°. A girl 100 mfrom
him at standing on the roof of 20 m high building finds the
angleof elevation of the same bird to be 45°. The boy and
bird. Find the distance of the bird from the girl are on opposite sides
ofthe the girl, correct to
Solution. Let the bird be at the point P. The boy is at the point Bonnearest cm.
the ground and the
girl is at the point G on the roof, 20 mabove the
Given BP = 100 m and ground.
AG = 20 m.
From right-angled APBN,
NP
sin 30° =
BP
100
m
O
20
m
NP
’ NP = 50 m
100
30
CP = NP - NC = NP - AG B
= 50 m - 20 m
= 30 m.
From right-angled APCG,
sin 45° = CP
GP
1

GP

GP =30 V2 m = (30 x 1-4142) m = 42-426 m =4243 m(correct to nearest cm)

Hence, the bird is 42-43 m away from the girl.
mpie 23. The angle of elevation of a bird from a point 50 metres above a lake is 30° and
the angle of depression of its reflection in the lake is 60°. Find the height of the bird.
Solution. Let O be the point of observation
DU metres above lake level and let the bird be at
e point A. IfBis the reflection of the bird in the
lake, then MB =MA. Let the height of the bird
above the lake level be h metres, then
AN = (h - 50) 50 m 60

NB = (h + 50)
metres and
ZAON = 30° and metres.
BON = 60°. Lake

From the right-angled AOAN,

tan 30° = AN 1 h-50
ON ON
’ ON = V3 (h -
50)
Heights and Distances 487
 From right-angled AOBN,
tan 60°= NBA-+50
ON ON
V3ON = h + 50
V3x V3 (h 50) =h+ 50
3h -150 = h + 50
2h = 200 ’ h= 100. (using ()
.. The height of the bird (above lake level) = 100 metres.
Example 24, Astraight highway leads to the foot of a tower. A man
which standing
at the
the tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30°,
of the tower with a uniform speed. Six seconds later,
is
the angle of
is found to be 60. Find the time taken by the car to reach the foot of
approaching thetop of
depression of the foot
the tower car
this point. fron
Solution. Let MP be the tower of height h metres.
Let A be the position of the car when its angle of
depression (as seen from P) is 30° and 6 seconds P
later, let the car be at the point B when its angle 600
of depression is 60°.
Let AB be x metres and BM be y metres. h

MP h
From APAM, tan 30° = ...) 30
AM V3 X+y 60°
A
MP
’B- y-> M
From APBM, tan 60° = ..(ii)
BM
On dividing (i) by (), we get
V3xxIty
h13-xty
3y = x + y’y=
As the car takes 6 seconds in moving
from A to B i.e. to cover x metres,
time taken by the car in moving from B to M ie.
6 2
metres
seconds =3 seconds.
Hence, the time taken by the car to reach the foot
of tower = 3
Example 25. The angle of elevation of a jet plane from a point A seconds.
a flight of 15 seconds, the angle of on the ground is 60°. After
elevation changes to
horizontally at a constant height of 1500 /3 metres, find the30°. If theofjet plane is tlyng
Solution. Let P be the position of the jet plane when its speed the jet plane.
ground is 60° and Q be its position when the elevation from a point Aon te
angle of elevation is 30°.
Given MP = NQ = 1500 N3 m.
From right angled AAMP,
tan 60°MP 3-1500/3 m
AM
AM
AM = 1500 m.
From right angled AANQ,
609
tan 30° NQ 1
1500V3 m 30°
AN
AN A M

488
UNDERSTANDING ICSE MATHEMATICS -X
 AN= 4500 m
AN.
I- AM =(4500-1500) m =3000 m.
PO = MN=
3000
plane =
The speed of the 15
m/s = 200 m/s

=200x km/h = 720 km/h.

Eample26..A1-4 mtall girl spots a balloon moving with the wind in a horizontal line at
heightof91-4 m
from the ground. The angle of elevation of the balloon from the eyes
a
at that instant is 60°. After some time, the angle of elevation reduces to 30°.
ofthe girl
Findthe distance travelled by the balloon during that interval. Take y3 =1-732.
Solution. Let AB represent the
girl 1-44 mtall and P, Qbe
positions of the balloon when the angles of
the two Aare 60° and 30°
elevation observed from the point
respectively. Through A, draw a horizontal line AX. BY
represents ground. 60
and from A
Erom P. draw PMI BY to meet AX at M;
AX at N.
0.draw QN' IBY to meet R M Ground
MP = MP - MM = MP - AB
= 91-4 m -14 m = 90 m,
( PMNQ is a rectangle)
then NQ = MP = 90 m
d metres
Let PQ be d metres, then MN = PQ =
+ MN = (x + d) metres.
Let AM be x metres, then AN = AM
Inright angled AAMP, PAM =60°
90 ...()
tan 60°=
MP V3=0
AM

In right angled AANQ, ZQAN = 30° ..(1)

1 90°
NQ
tan 30° = ’
AN x+d
Dividing () by (i), we get
90 x + a 2 - td
..(üi)
1 90
3x = x d ’ d = 2x
90
From (), x= V3
- 30/3.
60 /3 =60 x 1-732 =103:92 interval =103-92 metres.
From (ii), d =2 x330 /3 =
balloon during the
the
Hence, the distance travelled by

Exercise 20 \3
shadow is 10
metres in length,
find the

high. If its