Topic: Triangle Trigonometry

Sub-Topic: Angles of Elevation and Angles of Depression

OBJECTIVES

a. Illustrate angles of elevation and angles of depression;

b. Distinguish between angle of elevation and angle of depression; and
c. Solve problems involving angles of elevation and depression
d. Appreciate the value of computational techniques in manipulating
trigonometric ratios to solved problems with angles of elevation and
depression.

Things to Remember:

 The angle of elevation is the angle between the imaginary line of sight and
horizontal line, where the object is above the observer.
 The angle of depression is the angle between the imaginary line of sight and
a horizontal line, where the object is below the observer.


 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.

Let’s Do This!

Problem no. 1: A girl is sitting in the shade under a tree that is 90 ft

from the base of a tower. The angle of elevation from the girl to the
top of the tower is 35 degrees. Find the height of the windmill.
Solution:

Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation.

Step 2: Mark in the given angle of elevation or depression.
Step 3: Use trigonometry to find the required missing length

Problem no. 2: The angle of depression of a stone on the ground

from the top of a tower is 45. If the stone is at a distance of 120
meters away from the building, find the height of the tower.

Solution:

Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation.

Step 2: Mark in the given angle of elevation or depression.
Step 3: Use trigonometry to find the required missing length

I Can Do This!

Try This Out!

a. From two points 100 ft apart in a straight line to the base of a tree,
the angle of elevation to the top of the tree are 380 and 530
respectively. Find the height of the tree.

b. An observer in a lighthouse 48.8 m above sea level saw two vessels

moving directly towards the lighthouse. He observed that the angles of
depression are 420 and 350. Find the distance between the two
vessels, assuming that they are coming from the same side of the
tower.

Let’s Do More!

Consider the situation below:

A boy who is on the second floor of their house watches his dog lying
on the ground. The angle between his eye level and his line of sight is
320.

a. Which angle is identified in the problem: angle of elevation or angle

of depression? Justify your answer.
b. If the boy is 3 meters above the ground, approximately how far is the
dog from the house?
c. If the dog is 7 meters from the house, approximately how high is the
boy above the ground?
d. Make an illustration for the situations b and c, and use this
illustration to find the distance between the dog and the house, and
between the boy and the ground

Challenge Yourself!

1. Find the value of the hypotenuse x.

2. Find the measure of angle x.

3. Find the distance between the man and the tree.

4. Find the measure of

A 4 meters
12 meters