Department of Education

National Capital Region

Schools Division of Parañaque City
Self-Learning Modules
Mathematics 9 Quarter 4 Week 3

ANGLE OF ELEVATION

Learning Competencies
The learner illustrates angle of elevation.

Objectives
The learner…
a. illustrates the angle of elevation.
b. solves problems involving angle of elevation.

Let’s Recall
Complete the table below that summarizes the values of the trigonometric ratios of the
angles 30°, 45°, and 60°.
Trigonometric Ratios of the Angles
θ sin cos tan csc sec cot
30°
45°
60°

Let’s Understand
Solving real-life problems involving right triangles requires knowledge of some
significant terms such as line of sight and angle of elevation.
 MATHEMATICS9-QUARTER4-WEEK3

The line of sight is an imaginary line that connects the eye of an observer to
the object being observed. The angle of elevation is the angle from the horizontal to
the line of sight of the observer to the object above.
The study of trigonometric ratios originated from geometric problems involving
triangles. To recall, solving a triangle means finding the lengths of the sides and
measures of the angles of the triangle. Trigonometric ratios may be used to solve
problems involving angles of elevation.

Example 1: A tower is 15.60 m high. At a certain distance away from the tower, an
observer determines that the angle of elevation to the top of it is 45°. How
far is the observer from the base of the tower?

Solution: A trigonometric ratio often helps us set up an equation, which can then
be solved for the missing measurement. If two legs of the triangle are
part of the problem, then it is a tangent ratio. If the hypotenuse is part of
the problem, then it is either a sine or cosine ratio.
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
tan 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡
15.60 𝑚
tan 45° = 𝑥
𝑥 tan 45° = 15.60
𝑥 tan 45° 15.60
= tan 45°
tan 45°
𝑥 = 15.60 𝑚

Example 2: A ladder of length 20 m is kept in against a wall of length 10 m such that

their topmost point is in contact with one another, and their bottom point
are at certain distance as shown in the figure. Find the angle subtended
by the ladder on the floor.
Solution:
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
sin 𝛼 = ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
10 𝑚
sin 𝛼 = 20 𝑚
1
sin 𝛼 = 2
1
𝛼 = sin−1 (2)
𝛼 = 30°

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 MATHEMATICS9-QUARTER4-WEEK3

Example 3: Two ships are sailing in the sea on either sides of a lighthouse. The angle
of elevation of the top of the lighthouse as observed from the ships are
30° and 45° respectively. If the lighthouse is 300 m high, find the distance
between the two ships. (√3=1.732)
Solution:

Let AB be the lighthouse. Let C and D be the positions of the two ships.
Then, AB = 200 m, ∠ACB = 30°, ∠ADB = 45°
(1) In right triangle BAC, (2) In right triangle BAD, (3) CD = AC + AD
AB AB CD = 200√3 + 200
tan 30° = tan 45° =
AC AD = 200(1 + √3)
1 200 200
= 1= = 200 ∙ 2.732
√3 AC AD
= 546.4 m
AC = 200√3 m AD = 200√3 m

The distance between two ships is 546.4 m.

Let’s Apply
Answer the following problems.
1. A hiker is 400 meters away from the base of the radio tower. The angle of
elevation to the top of the tower is 46°. How high is the tower?

2. A man is standing in front of a wall and looking at its topmost point. If the angle
of elevation is 60° and the height of the wall is 40 m, find the distance between
the foot of the man and the wall.

3. The height of a pole is 30 m. A man is standing at a distance of 20 m from the

foot of the pole. The man looks at the topmost point of the point from the place
where he is standing. Determine the angle made by the man’s eye with the
topmost point of the pole.

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 MATHEMATICS9-QUARTER4-WEEK3

Let’s Analyze
Illustrate and solve for the following problems. Use the template below.

Draw the diagram.

What is/are given?

What is to be determined?

Formula used

Solution

Problems:
1. A 12-m high post casts a 19-meter shadow. Find the angle of elevation to the
sun.

2. The angle of elevation from a boat to the top of a 92-meter hill is 12°. How far
is the boat from the base of the hill?

3. Calix’ kite is flying above a field at the end of 65 m of spring. If the angle of
elevation to the kite measures 70°, and Calix is holding the kite 1.2 m off the
ground. How high above the ground is the kite flying?

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 MATHEMATICS9-QUARTER4-WEEK3

Let’s Create
Draw the pictures presented by the information in the problems given. (These
problems do not ask for an answer). Assume that buildings, ladders, etc. are all on the
level ground. Clear, neat, and accurate illustrations are necessary.
1. The angle of elevation at the top of the building from a point 30 meters away
from the building is 65°.

2. Two points on the same side of a tree are 19.8 meters apart. The angles of
elevation of the top of the tree are 21° from one point and 16° from the other
point.

3. A man flies a kite with a 100-foot string, the angle of elevation of the string is
52°.

4. A cell site tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point on the ground,
which is 50 m away from the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of the top
of the tower is 25°.

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 MATHEMATICS9-QUARTER4-WEEK3

5. Two trees are standing on flat ground. The angle of elevation of the top of both
the trees from a point X on the ground is 40°. The horizontal distance between
X and the smaller tree is 8 m and the distance between the two trees is 15 m.

Let’s Try
Objectives:
▪ To apply sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find the angle of elevation.
▪ To measure lengths and use measurements to determine angle measures.

Material: Tape measure

Directions: You may ask a member of your family to help you accomplish the activity.

Procedure:
1. Measure the height of a member of your family.
2. Measure the length of his/her shadow.
3. Using what you know about trigonometric ratios, determine the angle of
elevation from the ground to the sun. (Sketch/take a picture of the situation that
will help in your computation.)

Questions:
1. What have you learned in the activity?
2. Can the sine or cosine of an angle ever be greater than 1? If so, why?
3. Write a problem that applies angles of elevation; show an illustration with
complete solution.