Angles of Elevation &

Depression

Objectives:
1) To use s of elevation and
depression to solve problems.
 Angles of Elevation and Depression
Top Horizontal

Angle of Depression

Angle of Elevation

Bottom Horizontal

Since the two horizontal lines are parallel, by Alternate Interior Angles the
angle of depression must be equal to the angle of elevation.
 Angles of Elevation
 The angle of elevation of an object
as seen by an observer is the angle
between the horizontal and the line
from the object to the observer's eye
(the line of sight).
 Angle of Depression
 If the object is below the level of the
observer, then the angle between
the horizontal and the observer's line
of sight is called the angle of
depression
 Ex.1:  of Elevation Problem
 Bob is standing 80m from the base
of a building. When he looks up at a
25 he sees the top of the build.
What is the building’s height?
tan 25 = Height
80m
(.466) = Height
80m
(.466)(80) = Height

Height = 37.3m
Ex.2:  of Depression Problem
 A bird sits on top of a lamppost. The angle of
depression from the bird to the feet of an
observer standing away from the lamppost is 35.
The lamppost is 14ft tall. How far away is the
observer from the bird?
Sin 35 = 14
x
35 (.574) = 14
x
x (.574)x = 14
14ft
x = 14/(.574)

35 x = 24.4ft
 Ex.3: Finding the angle
 An airplane is flying at a height of 2 miles
above the ground. The distance along the
ground from the airplane to the airport is
5 miles. What is the angle of depression
from the airplane to the airport?
plane
x

2 miles

Airport x
5 miles
 Example 1
Before the Mast: At a point on the ground 50 feet from the
foot of the flagpole, the angle of elevation to the top of the
pole is 53°. Find the height of the flagpole.

Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem

h
Step 2: Label sides from angle’s view
opp
Step 3: Identify trig function to use 53°
adj 50
Step 4: Set up equation
h
Step 5: Solve for variable tan 53° = -----
50

SO/H 50 tan 53° = h = 66.35 feet

CA/H
TO/A
 Example 2
Job Site A 20-foot ladder leans against a wall so that the base of
the ladder is 8 feet from the base of the building. What angle
does the ladder make with the ground?

Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem

20
Step 2: Label sides from angle’s view hyp

Step 3: Identify trig function to use x°

adj 8
Step 4: Set up equation
8
Step 5: Solve for variable cos x° = -----
20

SO/H cos-1 (8/20) = x = 66.42°

CA/H
TO/A
 Example 3
CIRCUS ACTS At the circus, a person in the audience watches
the high-wire routine. A 5-foot-6-inch tall acrobat is standing on
a platform that is 25 feet off the ground. How far is the audience
member from the base of the platform, if the angle of elevation
from the audience member’s line of sight to the top of the
acrobat is 27°?
Step 1: Draw a triangle to fit problem
30.5 = 25 + 5.5
Step 2: Label sides from angle’s view
opp
Step 3: Identify trig function to use 27°
x adj
Step 4: Set up equation
30.5
Step 5: Solve for variable tan 27° = -------
x
x tan 27° = 30.5
SO/H x = (30.5) / (tan 27°)
CA/H x = 59.9
TO/A
 Example 4

DIVING At a diving competition, a 6-foot-tall diver stands

atop the 32-foot platform. The front edge of the platform
projects 5 feet beyond the ends of the pool. The pool itself is
50 feet in length. A camera is set up at the opposite end of
the pool even with the pool’s edge. If the camera is angled
so that its line of sight extends to the top of the diver’s head,
what is the camera’s angle of elevation to the nearest degree?

37 = 32 + 6
Answer: about 39.4°
x°
45 = 50 - 5
 Example 5

SHORT-RESPONSE TEST ITEM

A roller coaster car is at one of its highest points. It drops at a
63° angle for 320 feet. How high was the roller coaster car to the
nearest foot before it began its fall?

320
h
63°

Answer: The roller coaster car was about 285 feet above the
ground.
 Example 6

A pilot flying at an altitude of 12,000 ft sights

two airports directly in front of him. The angle
of depression to one airport is 78°, and the
angle of depression to the second airport is
19°. What is the distance between the two
airports? Round to the nearest foot.

19°
78°
12000 ft

78° 19°
STEM integration
of the topic
1.A ship sails 200km East. After refueling,
it turns North & sails for 250km.Solve for:
Magnitude: 320.47 km

Direction: 51.34* S of E

Why does the ship float? Density , buoyancy

Technology: What devices are GPS, Sonar and

used in locating or tracking
radars
ships?
2. A kite with a string 150 feet long makes
an angle of 45° with the ground.
Assuming the string is straight, how high
is the kite?
Magnitude: 106.07 ft

Weight, air friction

Why makes the kite fly?

Technology: What materials are

Plastic/paper,
used in making a kite? tape, string,
stick/rod, yarn
 Angles of Elevation and Depression
angle of depression
difference
in height
between objects
angle of elevation
distance between objects

1. The angle of elevation from point A to the top of the press box is 49°. If point A is
400 ft from the base of the press box, how high is the press box?

2. Find the angle of elevation of the sun when a 12.5 ft post casts a 18 ft shadow?

3. A ladder leaning up against a barn makes an angle of 78° with the ground when the
ladder is 5 feet from the barn. How long is the ladder?

4. From the top of the 120 foot fire tower a ranger observes a fire at an angle of
depression of 19°. How far from the base of the tower is the fire?

5. A hill is 1000 yards long with a vertical drop of 208 yards. Find the angle of
depression from the top of the hill to the bottom.
 Angles of Elevation and Depression
1. The angle of elevation from point A to the top of the press box is 49°. If point A is
400 ft from the base of the press box, how high is the press box?

Side; Tan 49° = h/400 400 Tan 49° = h = 460.1 ft

2. Find the angle of elevation of the sun when a 12.5 ft post casts a 18 ft shadow?

Angle; Tan x° = 12.5/18 x = Tan –1 (12.5/18) = 34.78°

3. A ladder leaning up against a barn makes an angle of 78° with the ground when the
ladder is 5 feet from the barn. How long is the ladder?

Side; Cos 78° = 5/L L = 5/Cos 78° = 24.05 ft

4. From the top of the 120 foot fire tower a ranger observes a fire at an angle of
depression of 19°. How far from the base of the tower is the fire?

Side; Tan 19° = 120/d d = 120/Tan 19° = 348.5 ft

5. A hill is 1000 yards long with a vertical drop of 208 yards. Find the angle of
depression from the top of the hill to the bottom.

Angle; Tan x° = 208/1000 x = Tan –1 (208/1000) = 11.75°