Worked example 16: Problems in three dimensions - height of a building

QUESTION
D is the top of a building of height h. The base of the building is at A and ABC lies
on the ground (a horizontal plane). BC = b, D

BA = , D

BC = and D

CB = .
Show that h =
b sin sin
sin(+)
.
A
B
C
D

b
h
SOLUTION
Step 1: Consider the given information
We know that ABD is right-angled and we are required to nd a formula to calculate
the length of AD. In BCD, we are given two angles and a length of BC. We identify
the side BD as the link between ABD and BCD.
Step 2: Determine an expression for BD
BCD does not have a right-angle but two angles and a side are given, so we use the
sine rule to determine BD.
In BCD : B

DC = 180

( +) (s sum of BCD)
sin (180

( +)) = sin ( +)
BD
sin
=
b
sin(B

DC)
BD =
b sin
sin(B

DC)
=
b sin
sin(+)
Step 3: Determine an expression for AD
In ABD:
B

AD = 90

(building vertical)
D

BA = (given)
h
BD
= sin
h = BDsin
h =
b sin sin
sin(+)
167 Chapter 4. Trigonometry