Grade

MATHEMATICS
Quarter 4 – Module 3
Angle of Elevation and
Depression
PART I.
MELC 3: Illustrate angle of elevation and angle of depression.

A. Introduction and Discussion

This module, you are expected to illustrate the concept of angle of elevation and angle of
depression. With the specified MELC as basis of learning objective, the learning activities
provide you the opportunities to perform the following learning tasks:
a. Communicate your understanding about angle of elevation and angle of depression.
b. Make an illustration by sketching or drawing of objects or structures from actual
observations; and identify the angle of elevation and angle of depression.
c. Create a visual representation of the problem that involves angle of elevation and
angle of depression.
d. Solve problems involving angle of elevation and angle of depression.
Point B
Line of sight above horizontal LOS
(Terminal side)

Horizontal line of sight

(Initial side)

Point A
Figure 1. Angle of Elevation

In Figure 1, the boy at point A looks up at the bird at point B. The angle of elevation
is the angle measure from the horizontal line of sight (called the initial side) to the line of
sight above the observer (the terminal side).

Horizontal line of sight

(Initial side)

Line of sight below the horizontal

LOS (Terminal side)

Point A Point B
Figure 2. Angle of Depression

In Figure 2, the boy at point A looks down at the dog at point B. The angle of
depression is the angle measure from the horizontal line of sight (called the initial side)
to the line of sight below the observer (the terminal side).

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Illustrative Examples
Example 1: Refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4, identify the following geometric properties:
horizontal lines of sight, line of sight below the observer, line of sight above the observer,
angle of depression, and angle of elevation. You may try to identify the parts before
studying the solutions.
Observer at point
B Point A

ℎ𝐿
Point C
Point D ℎ𝑑 = 5 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠
Ship

Figure 3

Antenna at point X
X

ℎ𝐵

Observer at point Y
Y
Z
ℎ𝑚
𝐷
Figure 4

Directions: Match each geometric expression in Column B to each geometric statement

in Column A.
Column A Column B
___ 1. Horizontal line of sight in Figure 3 . A. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑌𝑋
___ 2. Line of sight below observer in Figure 3 . ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
B.𝑌𝑍
___ 3. Angle of depression in Figure 3. C.∠𝑋𝑌𝑍
___ 4. Horizontal line of sight in Figure 4 . D.5 tan (∠𝐴𝐵𝐶)
___ 5. Line of sight above observer in Figure 4. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
E.𝐵𝐴
___ 6. Angle of elevation in Figure 4. F.100 cos (∠𝑋𝑌𝑍)
___ 7. Height, ℎ𝐵 of the building above the ground. G.∠𝐴𝐵𝐶
___ 8. Height, ℎ𝐿 , of the lighthouse above sea level. ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
H.𝐵𝐶

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___ 9. Horizontal distance, D, of the observer in I. 100 sin(∠𝑋𝑌𝑍) + ℎ𝑚
5
Figure 4 from the base of the building. J.
cos(∠𝐴𝐵𝐶)
̅̅̅̅ in Figure 3.
___ 10. Distance of the line of sight 𝐵𝐶 K. 5 sin (∠𝐴𝐵𝐶)

Solutions:
1. The horizontal line of sight in Figure 3 is represented by the ray ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵𝐴 that originates from
the observation point B and passes through point A.
2. The line of sight from observation point (point B) to object of observation (point C) is
shown by ray 𝐵𝐶⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ .
3. The angle of depression in Figure 3 is represented by angle ∠𝐴𝐵𝐶.
4. The horizontal line of sight in Figure 4 is represented by ray 𝑌𝑍 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ that originates from
point Y (eyes of the observer) and passes through point Z.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ that originates from point Y (eyes
5. The line of sight in Figure 4 is represented by ray 𝑌𝑋
of the observer) and passes through point X.
6. Th angle of elevation as shown in Figure 4 is the angle ∠𝑍𝑌𝑋.
7. The height of the building in Figure 4 is equal to ℎ𝐵 = 100 sin(∠𝑍𝑌𝑋) + ℎ𝑚 , where ℎ𝑚 is
the height of the observer.
8. Tan() function is used to solve the height of the lighthouse from its top point to sea
level. ℎ𝐿 = 5 tan(∠𝐵𝐶𝐷) = 5 tan (∠𝐴𝐵𝐶) miles.
9. Cos() function is used to solve the distance D. Distance D is the adjacent side while
𝐶 = 100 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 is the hypotenuse side of the right triangle ∆𝑋𝑌𝑍 . The equation use to
solve the height of the building is ℎ𝐵 = 100 cos(∠𝑋𝑌𝑍) + ℎ𝑚.
5
̅̅̅̅ =
10. 𝐵𝐶
cos(∠𝐴𝐵𝐶)

Visualization of the problem. Translating the word problem into its equivalent visual form
will facilitate the analysis and the development of solutions to the problem. In this way,
clear solutions will lead to correct answers. In the process of illustrating the visual image
of the problem, it is important to note that each statement of concept in the word problem
has a corresponding visual meaning in the drawing.

Example 2. Illustrate the picture by drawing the given information from the word problem:
The angle of elevation at the top of the communication antenna tower from a point 500
meters away from its base is 70°.

Solution:
1. Draw the horizontal line ⃡⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 that represents the ground. Specify point A as the base of
the communication tower. Specify point B as the location on the ground at 500 meters
away from point A.
2. Draw the communication tower and specify its top as point T. And then, draw the ray
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ that originates from point B and passes through point T. Ray 𝐵𝑇
𝐵𝑇 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ represents the line
of sight above the observation point. Draw the angle ∠𝑇𝐵𝐴.

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 4. And finally, label all the parts of the drawing.

Communication
tower

Angle of elevation ∠𝑇𝐵𝐴 = 70°

A ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = 500 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 B
Figure 5. Visual representation of the problem.

Problem solving—Find the angle of elevation and the angle of depression.

Example 3: An observer stands at point 125 meters away from Grand Hyatt Manila Luxury
Hotel. The height of the hotel is 318 meters. Perform the following tasks:
a) Draw the visual image of the problem.
b) Solve the angle of elevation to the top of the hotel.
Solution: N
318 m

𝛼
O

125 m P
Figure 7

Step 1: Write the equation of tan(𝛼).

318𝑚
tan(𝛼) =
125𝑚

Step 2: Solve angle 𝛼 by taking the arctangent at both sides of the equation in Step 1.
318
tan−1 (tan(𝛼)) = tan−1 ( )
125
𝜶 = 𝟔𝟖. 𝟓𝟒°

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Example 4: A helicopter is hovering at 2 kilometer above the ground over point A. Airbase
is situated at point B that is 5 kilometers from point A. Draw the visual image and solve the
angle of depression from the helicopter to the air-base.

Solution:

5 km G
H

𝜃
2 km
2 km

5 km
I
Figure 8
Step 1: Write the equation of tan (𝜃)
2𝑘𝑚
tan 𝜃 =
5𝑘𝑚
Step 2: Solve angle 𝜃 by taking the Arctangent at both sides of the equation in Step 1.

2
tan−1 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃) = tan−1 ( )
5
𝜽 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟖𝟎°

Problem Solving—Find the height of the structure using its angle of elevation and
its angle of depression.

Example 5: An observer’s eyes are at a height of ℎ𝑒 =1.8 meters above the ground. He is
observing the top and the base of the building. The angle of elevation is 𝛼𝑒 = 30°, while
the angle of depression is 𝛼𝑑 = 2°. Illustrate the situation, find the height of the building
from its base to its top, and the distance of the observer from the building.

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 Solution:

𝑎𝑒 = 30°
𝑑 =?
𝑎𝑑 = 2°
ℎ𝑒 = 1.8 𝑚 ℎ𝑒 = 1.8 𝑚

𝑑 =?

Figure 9

Step 1: Solve the distance 𝑑, using tan( ) function.

1.8𝑚
tan(𝑎𝑑 ) =
𝑑
1.8𝑚
𝑑= = 51.55 𝑚
tan(2°)
Step 2: Solve h using tan( ) function.
ℎ
tan(𝑎𝑒 ) =
𝑑
ℎ = 𝑑 tan(𝑎𝑒 )
ℎ = (51.55 𝑚) tan(30°)

ℎ = 29.76 𝑚
Step 3: Solve the height of the building by adding ℎ and ℎ𝑒 .

ℎ + ℎ𝑒 = 29.76 𝑚 + 1.8 𝑚 = 31.56 𝑚

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Part II: Activities
Activity 1: Identify the terms in Figure 10

2. ________________
4. _____________
3. _______________
___
_

Figure 10
Activity 2: A hiker is 300 meters away from the base of the communication tower antenna. The
angle of elevation is 50°. How high is the tower?
Activity 3: A helicopter is hovering at 4 kilometer above the ground over point A. Airbase is
situated at point B that is 10 kilometers from point A. At what angle is the pilot looking at the
airbase?
Activity 4: An observer is situated at a height of ℎ𝑒 =12 meters above the ground. He is
observing the top and the base of the building. The angle of elevation is 𝛼𝑒 = 50°, while the
angle of depression is 𝛼𝑑 = 3°. Perform the following tasks:
a) Illustrate the situation.*
b) Find the height of the building from its base to its top.
c) find the distance of the observer from the building.
d) Write the general formula to solve the height of the building.

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PART III. Assessment
Directions: Answer the following questions by selecting the letter of the correct answer. Write
the letter of the correct answer in your answer sheet.

1. From the top of the house 8 meters high, you see a dog on the ground. The angle of
depression of the dog is 60°. How far is the dog from the house?
A. 4 meters B. 5 meters C. 4.62 meters D. 5. 26 meters

2. An airplane is at 90 meters high above the ground and is ready to land to the airport.
Its distance from its position to the airport is 700 meters. What is the angle of
depression?
𝐴. 7.9° B. 7.39° C. 8° D. 8.68°
3. A weather balloon is at 100 meters high above the ground. Its angle of elevation from
one scientist at point A is 25° and from other scientist at point B, the angle of elevation
is 55°. What is the distance between the two observers?
A. 284.47 meters B. 290 meters C. 310 meters D. 248 meters

4. A zip-line is to be constructed with the design specification as shown in Figure 11.

Estimate the minimum length of the cable to be used in this application.

A. 630 feet B. 633. 46 feet C. 650.48 feet D. 664. 25 feet

cable 110 feet

10°

Figure 11

5. A surveyor is assigned to measure the actual distance between point A and point B as
shown in Figure 12. The two locations are displaced where there are existing buildings,
structures, and park between them. The surveyor decided to make use of drone to
perform the task. He planned to hover the drone at 500 meters above the ground and
measure the angles of depression to point A and to point B using computer application.
The measured angles of depression are 𝛼𝐴 = 15° and 𝛼𝐵 = 25°, respectively. What is
distance between location A and location B?

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 𝛼𝐴 = 15° 𝛼𝐵 = 25°
500 m

𝑑𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅ = ?

Figure 12
A. 2,938.28 meters B. 3,138.28 meters C. 2, 839. 3 meters D. 3.3 km

Reference:
Melden L. Bryant, Leonides E. Bulalayao, Melvin M. Callante, et al. Mathematics Learner’s Material
9, Pasig City: Department of Education, 2014.