SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY

195

SOME APPLICATIONS
OF TRIGONOMETRY 9
9.1 Introduction
In the previous chapter, you have studied about trigonometric ratios. In this chapter,
you will be studying about some ways in which trigonometry is used in the life
around you. Trigonometry is one of the most ancient subjects studied by scholars
all over the world. As we have said in Chapter 8, trigonometry was invented
because its need arose in astronomy. Since then the astronomers have used it, for
instance, to calculate distances from the Earth to the planets and stars. Trigonometry
is also used in geography and in navigation. The knowledge of trigonometry is used
to construct maps, determine the position of an island in relation to the longitudes
and latitudes.
Surveyors have used trigonometry for
centuries. One such large surveying
project of the nineteenth century was the
‘Great Trigonometric Survey’ of
British India for which the two largest-
ever theodolites were built. During the
survey in 1852, the highest mountain
in the world was discovered. From a
distance of over 160 km, the peak was
observed from six different stations. In
1856, this peak was named after Sir A Theodolite
George Everest, who had commissioned (Surveying instrument, which is
and first used the giant theodolites (see based on the Principles of
the figure alongside). The theodolites trigonometry, is
are now on display in the Museum of used for measuring angles with a
the Survey of India in Dehradun. rotating telescope)

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196 MATHEMATICS

In this chapter, we will see how trigonometry is used for finding the heights
and distances of various objects, without actually measuring them.

9.2 Heights and Distances

Let us consider Fig. 8.1 of prvious chapter, which is redrawn below in Fig.
9.1.

Fig. 9.1
In this figure, the line AC drawn from the eye of the student to the top of the
minar is called the line of sight. The student is looking at the top of the minar. The
angle BAC, so formed by the line of sight with the horizontal, is called the angle of
elevation of the top of the minar from the eye of the student.
Thus, the line of sight is the line drawn from the eye of an observer to the
point in the object viewed by the observer. The angle of elevation of the point
viewed is the angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal when the point
being viewed is above the horizontal level, i.e., the case when we raise our head to
look at the object (see Fig. 9.2).

Fig. 9.2

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SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY 197

Now, consider the situation given in Fig. 8.2. The girl sitting on the balcony is
looking down at a flower pot placed on a stair of the temple. In this case, the line of
sight is below the horizontal level. The angle so formed by the line of sight with the
horizontal is called the angle of depression.
Thus, the angle of depression of a point on the object being viewed is the
angle formed by the line of sight with the horizontal when the point is below the
horizontal level, i.e., the case when we lower our head to look at the point
being viewed (see Fig. 9.3).

Fig. 9.3
Now, you may identify the lines of sight, and the angles so formed in Fig. 8.3.
Are they angles of elevation or angles of depression?
Let us refer to Fig. 9.1 again. If you want to find the height CD of the minar
without actually measuring it, what information do you need? You would need to
know the following:
(i) the distance DE at which the student is standing from the foot of the
minar
(ii) the angle of elevation,  BAC, of the top of the minar
(iii) the height AE of the student.
Assuming that the above three conditions are known, how can we determine
the height of the minar?
In the figure, CD = CB + BD. Here, BD = AE, which is the height of the
student. To find BC, we will use trigonometric ratios of  BAC or  A.
In  ABC, the side BC is the opposite side in relation to the known  A. Now,
which of the trigonometric ratios can we use? Which one of them has the two
values that we have and the one we need to determine? Our search narrows down
to using either tan A or cot A, as these ratios involve AB and BC.

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MATHEMATICS

BC AB ,
Therefore, tan A = or cot A = which on solving would give us BC.
AB BC
By adding AE to BC, you will get the height of the minar.

Now let us explain the process, we have just discussed, by solving some
problems.

Example 1 : A tower stands vertically on the ground. From a point on the

ground, which is 15 m away from the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation of
the top of the tower is found to be 60°. Find the height of the tower.
Solution : First let us draw a simple diagram
to represent the problem (see Fig. 9.4). Here
AB represents the tower, CB is the distance of the
point from the tower and  ACB is the angle of
elevation. We need to determine the height of the
tower, i.e., AB. Also, ACB is a triangle, right-
angled at B.
To solve the problem, we choose the
trigonometric ratio tan
tan60° ABcot 60°), as the
60° (or
Now,
ratio
= involves AB and BC.
BC
AB Fig. 9.4
i.e., 3 = 15

i.e., AB = 15 3

Hence, the height of the tower is 15 3 m.

Example 2 : An electrician has to repair an electric
fault on a pole of height 5 m. She needs to reach a
point 1.3m below the top of the pole to undertake
the repair work (see Fig. 9.5). What should be the
length of the ladder that she should use which,
when inclined at an angle of 60° 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
Fig. 9.5
ladder? (You may take 3 = 1.73)

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SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY 199

Solution : In Fig. 9.5, the electrician is required to reach the point B on the pole
AD. So, BD = AD – AB = (5 – 1.3)m = 3.7 m.
Here, BC represents the ladder. We need to find its length, i.e., the hypotenuse of
the right triangle BDC.
Now, can you think which trigonometic ratio should we
consider? It should be sin 60°.

So, BD = sin 60° or 3.7 =

3 BC 2
BC 3.7 
Therefore, BC = 2 = 4.28 m (approx.)
3
i.e., the length of the ladder should be 4.28
m.
DC 1
Now, = cot 60° =
3
BD
3.7
i.e., DC = = 2.14 m (approx.)
3

Therefore, she should place the foot of the ladder at a distance of 2.14 m from the
pole.

Example 3 : An observer 1.5 m tall is 28.5 m away

from a chimney. The angle of elevation of the top
of the chimney from her eyes is 45°. What is the
height of the chimney?
Solution : Here, AB is the chimney, CD the
observer and  ADE the angle of elevation (see
Fig. 9.6). In this case, ADE is a triangle, right-
angled at E and we are required to find the height
of
Wethe chimney.
have AB = AE + BE = AE + 1.5 Fig. 9.6
and DE = CB = 28.5 m
To determine AE, we choose a trigonometric ratio, which involves both AE
and DE. Let us choose the tangent of the angle of elevation.

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200 MATHEMATICS

AE
Now, tan 45° =

DE
AE
i.e., 1=
28.5
Therefore, AE = 28.5
So the height of the chimney (AB) = (28.5 + 1.5) m = 30 m.

Example 4 : From a point P on the ground the angle of elevation of the top of a 10
m tall building is 30°. A flag is hoisted at the top of the building and the angle of
elevation of the top of the flagstaff from P is 45°. Find the length of the flagstaff
and the distance of the building from the point P. (You may take 3 = 1.732)
Solution : In Fig. 9.7, AB denotes the height of the building, BD the flagstaff and P
the given point. Note that there are two right triangles PAB and PAD. We are
required to find the length of the flagstaff, i.e., DB and the distance of the building
from the point P, i.e., PA.
Since, we know the height of the building AB, we
will first consider the right  PAB.
AB
We have tan 30°
=
AP
1
i.e., = 10
3
AP

Therefore, AP = 10 3 Fig. 9.7

i.e., the distance of the building from P is 10 3 m = 17.32

m.

Next, let us suppose DB = x m. Then AD = (10 + x) m.

AD
Now, in right  PAD,
10  x
tan 45° = AP 
10 3
10  x
Therefore, 1=
10 3

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SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY 201

i.e., x = 10   = 7.32
3 1

So, the length of the flagstaff is 7.32 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 30°
than when it is 60°. Find the height of the
tower.
Solution : In Fig. 9.8, AB is the tower and
BC is the length of the shadow when the
Sun’s altitude is 60°, i.e., the angle of
elevation of the top of the tower from the
tip of the shadow is 60° and DB is the Fig. 9.8
length of the shadow, when the angle of
elevation is 30°.
Now, let AB be h m and BC be x m. According to the question, DB is 40 m longer
than BC.
So, DB = (40 + x) m
Now, we have two right triangles ABC and ABD.
AB
In  ABC, tan 60°
BC
=
h
or, (1)
3 =
x
In  ABD, tan 30° = AB
1
i.e., = (2)
3 BD
x
40h
From (1), we have h= x 3
3
Putting this value in (2), we get x 3 = x + 40, i.e., 3x = x + 40
i.e., x = 20 
[From (1)]
So, h = 20 3

Therefore, the height of the tower is 20 3 m.

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202 MATHEMATICS

Example 6 : The angles of depression of the top and the bottom of an 8 m tall
building from the top of a multi-storeyed building are 30° and 45°, respectively.
Find the height of the multi-storeyed building and the distance between the two
buildings.
storyed
Solutionbuilding
: In Fig. and ABdenotes
9.9, PC denotesthe
themulti-
8 m
tall building. We are interested to
determine the height of the multi-storeyed
building, i.e., PC and the distance between
the two buildings, i.e., AC.
Look at the figure carefully. Observe that
PB is a transversal to the parallel lines PQ
and BD. Therefore,  QPB and  PBD are
alternate angles, and so are equal.
So  PBD = 30°. Similarly,  PAC = 45°. Fig. 9.9
In right  PBD, we have
PD
= tan 30° = 1 or BD = PD 3
BD 3
In right  PAC, we have

PC
= tan 45° = 1

i.e., AC
PC = AC
Also, PC = PD + DC, therefore, PD + DC = AC.

Since, AC = BD and DC = AB = 8 m, we get PD + 8 = BD = PD 3 (Why?)

8  3  1
8
This gives PD = 
3 1  3  1 3  4 3 
1
So, the height of the multi-storeyed building is 4  3  1  81m

m. = 4 3 + 3
and the distance between the two buildings is also 4 3 3 m
 m
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 30° and 45°, respectively. If the
bridge is at a height of 3 m from the banks, find the width of the river.

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SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY 203

Solution : In Fig 9.10, A and B

represent points on the bank on
opposite sides of the river, so
that AB is the width of the
river. P is a point on the bridge
at a height of 3 m, i.e., DP = 3
m. We are interested to Fig. 9.10
determine the width of the
river, which is the length of the
side AB of the  APB.
Now, AB = AD + DB
In right  APD,  A = 30°.
PD
So, tan 30° =

AD
1 3
i.e., 3
= or AD = 3 3 m
AD
Also, in right  PBD,  B = 45°. So, BD = PD = 3 m.

Now, AB = BD + AD = 3 + 3 3 = 3 (1 + 3 ) m.
3
Therefore, the width of the river is 3 
1m .
EXERCISE 9.1
1. A circus artist is climbing a 20 m long rope, which
is tightly stretched and tied from the top of a
vertical pole to the ground. Find the height of the
pole, if the angle made by the rope with the
ground level is 30° (see Fig. 9.11).
2. A tree breaks due to storm and the broken part
bends so that the top of the tree touches the
ground making an angle 30° with it. The distance
between the foot of the tree to the point where Fig. 9.11
the top touches the ground is 8 m. Find the
height of the tree.
3. A contractor plans to install two slides for the children to play in a park. For the
children below the age of 5 years, she prefers to have a slide whose top is at a height
of 1.5 m, and

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204 MATHEMATICS

is inclined at an angle of 30° to the ground, whereas for elder children, she wants to
have a steep slide at a height of 3m, and inclined at an angle of 60° to the ground.
What should be the length of the slide in each case?
4. The angle of elevation of the top of a tower from a point on the ground, which is 30
m away from the foot of the tower, is 30°. Find the height of the tower.
5. A kite is flying at a height of 60 m above the ground. The string attached to the kite is
temporarily tied to a point on the ground. The inclination of the string with the
ground is 60°. Find the length of the string, assuming that there is no slack in the
string.
6. A 1.5 m tall boy is standing at some distance from a 30 m tall building. The angle of
elevation from his eyes to the top of the building increases from 30° to 60° as he
walks towards the building. Find the distance he walked towards the building.
7. From a point on the ground, the angles of elevation of the bottom and the top of a
transmission tower fixed at the top of a 20 m high building are 45° and 60°
respectively. Find the height of the tower.
8. A statue, 1.6 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 angle of
elevation of the top of the pedestal is 45°. Find the height of the pedestal.
9. The angle of elevation of the top of a building from the foot of the tower is 30° and
the angle of elevation of the top of the tower from the foot of the building is 60°. If
the tower is 50 m high, find the height of the building.
10. Two poles of equal heights are standing opposite each other on either side of the road,
which is 80 m wide. From a point between them on the road, the angles of elevation
of the top of the poles are 60° and 30°, respectively. Find the height of the poles and
11. the
A distances
TV towerofstands
the point from the
vertically onpoles.
a
bank of a canal. From a point on the
other bank directly opposite the
tower, the angle of elevation of the
top of the tower is 60°. From
another point 20 m away from this
point on the line joing this point to
the foot of the tower, the angle of
elevation of the top of the tower is
30° (see Fig. 9.12). Find the height Fig. 9.12
of the tower and the width of the
canal. the top of a 7 m high building, the angle of elevation of the top of a cable tower
12. From
is 60° and the angle of depression of its foot is 45°. Determine the height of the
tower.
13. As observed from the top of a 75 m high lighthouse from the sea-level, the angles of
depression of two ships are 30° and 45°. If one ship is exactly behind the other on
the same side of the lighthouse, find the distance between the two ships.

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SOME APPLICATIONS OF TRIGONOMETRY 205

14. A 1.2 m tall girl spots a balloon

moving with the wind in a horizontal
line at a height of 88.2 m from the
ground. The angle of elevation of
the balloon from the eyes of the girl
at any instant is 60°. After some
time, the angle of elevation reduces
to 30° (see Fig. 9.13). Find the
distance travelled by the balloon Fig. 9.13
during the interval.
15. A straight highway leads to the foot of a tower. A man standing at the top of the
tower observes a car at an angle of depression of 30°, which is approaching the foot
of the tower with a uniform speed. Six seconds later, the angle of depression of the
car is found to be 60°. Find the time taken by the car to reach the foot of the tower
from this point.
16. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower from two points at a distance of 4 m and
9 m from the base of the tower and in the same straight line with it are
complementary. Prove that the height of the tower is 6 m.

3. Summary
In this chapter, you have studied the following points :
1. (i) The line of sight is the line drawn from the eye of an observer to the point in
the object viewed by the observer.
(ii) The angle of elevation of an object viewed, is the angle formed by the line of
sight with the horizontal when it is above the horizontal level, i.e., the case when
we raise our head to look at the object.
(iii) The angle of depression of an object viewed, is the angle formed by the line of
sight with the horizontal when it is below the horizontal level, i.e., the case when
we lower our head to look at the object.
2. The height or length of an object or the distance between two distant objects can be
determined with the help of trigonometric ratios.

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