Grade 10

Ch 9 Some Applications of Trigonometry

Session
Examples
Line of Sight is the line drawn from the eye of the observer to the
point on the object viewed by the observer.

Horizontal level is the horizontal line through the eye of the observer.

Angle of elevation
The angle of elevation is relevant for objects _________horizontal level.
It is the angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal level.

Angle of depression
The angle of depression is relevant for objects ________horizontal level.
It is the angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal level.

Calculating Heights and Distances

To, calculate heights and distances, we can make use of trigonometric ratios.
Step 1 : Draw a line diagram corresponding to the problem
Step 2 : Mark all known heights, distances and angles and denote unknown lengths by variables.
Step 3 :Use the values of various trigonometric ratios of the angles to obtain the unknown lengths from the known lengths.
Line of Sight is the line drawn from the eye of the observer to the
point on the object viewed by the observer.

Horizontal level is the horizontal line through the eye of the observer.

Angle of elevation
The angle of elevation is relevant for objects above horizontal level.
It is the angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal level.

Angle of depression
The angle of depression is relevant for objects below horizontal level.
It is the angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal level.

Calculating Heights and Distances

To, calculate heights and distances, we can make use of trigonometric ratios.
Step 1 : Draw a line diagram corresponding to the problem
Step 2 : Mark all known heights, distances and angles and denote unknown lengths by variables.
Step 3 :Use the values of various trigonometric ratios of the angles to obtain the unknown lengths from the known lengths.
Example – 1
Example – 1: A tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point on the ground, which is away from the foot of the
tower, the angle of elevation of the top of the tower is found to be . Find the height of the tower.

Ans. First let us draw a simple diagram to represent the problem (see fig.). Here represents the tower, is the distance of the
point from the tower and is the angle of elevation. We need to determine the height of the tower, i.e., . Also, is a triangle,
right-angled at B.

To solve the problem, we choose the trigonometric ratio , as the ratio involves and .

Now,

Hence, the height of the tower is m.

Example – 1: A tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point on the ground, which is away from the foot of the
tower, the angle of elevation of the top of the tower is found to be . Find the height of the tower.

Ans. First let us draw a simple diagram to represent the problem (see fig.). Here represents the tower, is the distance of the
point from the tower and is the angle of elevation. We need to determine the height of the tower, i.e., . Also, is a triangle,
right-angled at B.

To solve the problem, we choose the trigonometric ratio , as the ratio involves and .

Now,

Hence, the height of the tower is m.

Example – 2
Example – 2: An electrician has to repair an electric fault on a pole of height . She needs to reach a point below the top of
the pole to undertake the repair work (see fig.). What should be the length of the ladder of that she should use which,
when inclined at an angle of to the horizontal, would enable her to reach the required position? Also, how far from the foot
of the pole should she place the foot of the ladder? (You make take
Ans. In fig., the electrician is required to reach the point B on the pole AD.
So,

Here, BC represents the ladder. We need to find its length, i.e., the hypotenuse of the right triangle BDC.
So,

BC (approx.)
Thus, the length of the ladder should be _____ m.
Now,

(approx.)
Therefore, she should place the foot of the ladder at a distance of _____ m from the pole.
Example – 2: An electrician has to repair an electric fault on a pole of height . She needs to reach a point below the top of
the pole to undertake the repair work (see fig.). What should be the length of the ladder of that she should use which,
when inclined at an angle of to the horizontal, would enable her to reach the required position? Also, how far from the foot
of the pole should she place the foot of the ladder? (You make take
Ans. In fig., the electrician is required to reach the point B on the pole AD.
So,

Here, BC represents the ladder. We need to find its length, i.e., the hypotenuse of the right triangle BDC.
So,

BC (approx.)
Thus, the length of the ladder should be 4.28 m.
Now,

(approx.)
Therefore, she should place the foot of the ladder at a distance of 2.14 m from the pole.
Example – 3
Example – 3: An observer tall is 2 away from a chimney. The angle of elevation of the top of the chimney from her eyes is .
What is the height of the chimney?

Ans. Here, is the chimney, the observer and the angle of elevation (see fig.). In this case, is a triangle, right-angled at E and
we are required to find the height of the chimney.

We have

And

To determine AE, we choose a trigonometric ratio, which involves both and .

Let us choose the tangent of the angle of elevation.

So,

So the height of the chimney

.
Example – 3: An observer tall is 2 away from a chimney. The angle of elevation of the top of the chimney from her eyes is .
What is the height of the chimney?

Ans. Here, is the chimney, the observer and the angle of elevation (see fig.). In this case, is a triangle, right-angled at E and
we are required to find the height of the chimney.

We have

And

To determine AE, we choose a trigonometric ratio, which involves both and .

Let us choose the tangent of the angle of elevation.

So,

So the height of the chimney

.
Example – 4
Example – 4: From a point on the ground the angle of elevation of the top of a tall building is A flag is hoisted at the top of
the building and the angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff from is . Find the length of the flagstaff and the distance of
the building from the point . (You may take .
Ans. In fig., AB denotes the height of the building, the flagstaff and the given point. Note that there are two right triangles
and . We are required to find the length of the flagstaff, i.e., and the distance of the building from the point , i.e., .
Since we know the height of the building , we will first consider the right

= 10 x ______ = ______ m
Thus, the distance of the building from P is .
Next, let us suppose
Then
Now, in right

______
= 10 (______ – 1)
m
m
So, the length of the flagstaff is 7.32 m.
Example – 4: From a point on the ground the angle of elevation of the top of a tall building is A flag is hoisted at the top of
the building and the angle of elevation of the top of the flagstaff from is . Find the length of the flagstaff and the distance of
the building from the point . (You may take .
Ans. In fig., AB denotes the height of the building, the flagstaff and the given point. Note that there are two right triangles
and . We are required to find the length of the flagstaff, i.e., and the distance of the building from the point , i.e., .
Since we know the height of the building , we will first consider the right

= 10 x 1.732 = 17.32 m
Thus, the distance of the building from P is .
Next, let us suppose
Then
Now, in right

= 10 (1.732 – 1)
m
m
So, the length of the flagstaff is 7.32 m.
Example – 5
Example – 5: The shadow of a tower standing on a level ground is found to be 40 m longer when the Sun's altitude is than
when it is . Find the height of the tower.
Ans. In fig., is the tower and is the length of the shadow when the Sun's altitude is , i.e. the angle of elevation of the top of
the tower from the tip of the shadow is and DB is the length of the shadow, when the angle of elevation is .

Now, let be and be m. According to the question, is longer than .

So.
Now, we have two right triangles ABC and ABD.
In

(1)

In ,

From (1) m

So, m
Therefore, the height of the tower is m.
Example – 5: The shadow of a tower standing on a level ground is found to be 40 m longer when the Sun's altitude is than
when it is . Find the height of the tower.
Ans. In fig., is the tower and is the length of the shadow when the Sun's altitude is , i.e. the angle of elevation of the top of
the tower from the tip of the shadow is and DB is the length of the shadow, when the angle of elevation is .

Now, let be and be m. According to the question, is longer than .

So,
Now, we have two right triangles ABC and ABD.
In

(1)

In ,

From (1) m

So, m
Therefore, the height of the tower is m.
Example – 6
Example – 6: The angles of depression of the top and the bottom of an tall building from the top of a multi-storeyed
building are and , respectively. Find the height of the multi-storeyed building and the distance between the two buildings.
Ans. In fig., PC denotes the multi-storeyed building, denotes the tall building and AC is the distance between the two
buildings. Here, is a transversal to the parallel lines and .
Therefore, are alternate angles, and so they are ________.
So, . Similarly, .
In right , we have

(1)
In right 30˚ (next)

(2)
Also, 45˚ (next)
(3)
Since,
From (3)
From (1) So, the height of the multi-storeyed building is
PC = =

And the distance between the two buildings, AC, is also m

because PC = AC (from (2))
Example – 6: The angles of depression of the top and the bottom of an tall building from the top of a multi-storeyed
building are and , respectively. Find the height of the multi-storeyed building and the distance between the two buildings.
Ans. In fig., PC denotes the multi-storeyed building, denotes the tall building and AC is the distance between the two
buildings. Here, is a transversal to the parallel lines and .
Therefore, are alternate angles, and so they are equal.
So, . Similarly, .
In right , we have

(1)
In right 30˚ (next)

(2)
Also, 60˚ (next)
(3)
Since,
From (3)
From (1) So, the height of the multi-storeyed building is
PC = =

And the distance between the two buildings is also m

because PC = AC (from (2))
Example – 7
Example – 7: From a point on a bridge across a river, the angles of depression of the banks on opposite sides of the river are
and , respectively. If the bridge is at a height of from the banks, find the width of the river.

Ans. In fig., and represents point on the bank on opposite sides of the river, so that is the width of the river. is a point on the
bridge at a height of , i.e., .

Here, is a transversal to the parallel lines and .

Therefore, are alternate angles, and so they are _________. So, . Similarly, .

In right .
Q R

Also, in right

Now,

Therefore, the width of the river is

Example – 7: From a point on a bridge across a river, the angles of depression of the banks on opposite sides of the river are
and , respectively. If the bridge is at a height of from the banks, find the width of the river.

Ans. In fig., and represents point on the bank on opposite sides of the river, so that is the width of the river. is a point on the
bridge at a height of , i.e., .

Here, is a transversal to the parallel lines and .

Therefore, are alternate angles, and so they are equal. So, . Similarly, .

In right .
Q R

Also, in right

Now,

Therefore, the width of the river is