Mathematical Reasoning

EXERCISES
Concept-based
Straight Objective Type Questions

1. Which of the following pairs are not logically equiva- (a) If Rohit is healthy or wealthy then Rohit is not wise
lent? (b) If Rohit is healthy and wealthy then Rohit is wise
(a) p ⁄ ( p Ÿ q) and p (c) Rohit is neither healthy nor wealthy nor wise
(b) p ⁄ t and p (d) none of these
(c) ~( p ⁄ q) and (~p) Ÿ (~q) 7. Let p, q, r be the following three statements:
(d) p ⁄ c and p p : n is prime
2. The statement (p Ÿ q) ⁄ (~p ⁄ (p Ÿ(~q))) is logically q : n is odd
equivalent to r : n is 2
(a) p Ÿ q (b) p Then p Æ q ⁄ r means
(c) q (d) t
(a) If n is prime then n is odd or 2
3. If (~p) ⁄ q Æ ~q has value F, then p, q are respec- (b) If n is prime and odd then n cannot be 2
tively (c) If n is odd or 2 then n is prime
(a) F, F (b) T, F (d) If n is odd then n is prime or 2
(c) p is T or F, F (d) none of these 8. The contrapositive of the statement "I go to college
4. The statement p Ÿ ~q Æ r is logically equivalent to if its not a holiday"
(a) ~p ⁄ q ⁄ r (b) (~p Ÿ q) ⁄ r (a) If I do not go to the college then its a holiday
(c) (p Ÿ ~ q) ⁄ r (d) (~p ⁄ q) Ÿ r (b) If I go the college then its not a holiday
5. The statement (p ⁄ ~q) Ÿ (~p ⁄ ~q) is logically (c) I go the college and its not a holiday
equivalent to (d) If I go to college then its a holiday
(a) p (b) q 9. Suppose p and q are two statements such that p Æ q
(c) ~p (d) ~q is false, then which one of the following not true?
(a) Truth value of ~p ⁄ q is F
6. Let p, q, r be the following:
(b) Truth values of p Ÿ (~q) is T
p : Rohit is healthy (c) Truth values of (~p) Ÿ (~q) is T
q : Rohit is wealthy (d) Truth values of p ⁄ q is T
r : Rohit is wise. 10. Which of the following is equivalent to p Æ q ⁄ r?
The statement p ⁄ q Æ ~r means (a) p Ÿ (~q) Æ r (b) p ⁄ (~r) Æ q
(c) p Ÿ (~r) Æ ~q (d) p ⁄ (~r) Æ q

LEVEL 1

Straight Objective Type Questions

11. Let p be the proposition: Mathematics is interesting (a) T, T (b) T, F

and q be mathematics is difficult, then p Ÿ q means (c) F, T (d) F, F
(a) Mathematics is interesting or difficult 13. The contrapositive of p Æ q is
(b) Mathematics is interesting and difficult (a) q Æ p (b) ~ p Æ ~ q
(c) Mathematics is interesting implies it is difficult (c) ~ q Æ ~ p (d) p Æ q
(d) Mathematics is interesting is equivalent to saying
that it is difficult 14. The contrapositive of (p ⁄ q) Æ r is
(a) r Æ (p ⁄ q) (b) ~ r Æ (~ p) Ÿ (~ q)
12. If p Æ (~ p ⁄ q) is false, the truth value of p and q
(c) (~ p) ⁄ (~ q) Æ ~ r (d) none of these
are respectively
15. ~ p Ÿ q is logically equivalent to ~ (p ⁄ q) ∫ ~ p Ÿ ~ q, is
(a) p Æ q (b) q Æ p (a) a tautology (b) a contradiction
(c) ~ (p Æ q) (d) ~ (q Æ p) (c) a simple statement (d) none of these
16. Negation of q ⁄ ~ (p Ÿ r) is 19. Which one of the following is a tautology?
(a) ~ q ⁄ ~ (p ⁄ r) (b) ~ q Ÿ (p Ÿ r) (a) (p Æ q) Ÿ p Æ q (b) (p Æ q) ⁄ p Æ q
(c) ~ q Ÿ (p Ÿ r) (d) ~ q ⁄ (p Ÿ r) (c) (p Æ q) ⁄ p Æ q (d) (p Æ q) Ÿ (~ q) Æ p
17. Negation of the statement “If a number is prime then 20. Which of the following is not equivalent to
it odd”, is ~ p Ÿ q?
(a) A number is not prime but odd (a) ~ (q Æ p) (b) ~ (p ⁄ ~ q)
(b) A number is prime but it is not odd (c) ~ p Æ ~ q (d) ~ (p ⁄ q)
(c) A number is neither prime nor odd 21. Which of the following is equivalent to p ´ q?
(d) none of these
(a) (~ p ⁄ q) ⁄ (p ⁄ q) (b) (p Ÿ q) ⁄ (~ p Ÿ ~ q)
18. If p, q are two propositions, then (c) (p ⁄ q) Ÿ (p ⁄ ~ q) (d) (p Ÿ q) ⁄ (p ⁄ q)

Assertion-Reason Type Questions

22. Let p, q, r be three statements. 24. Let p, q and r be three statements.

Statement-1: p ´ q ∫ (p Æ q) Ÿ (~ q ⁄ p) is a
tautology.
Statement-2: p ⁄ q Æ r ∫ (p Æ r) Ÿ (q Æ r) is a
tautology.
23. Let p and q be two statements.
Statement-1: (p ⁄ q) ⁄ ~ (~ p Ÿ q) is logically
equivalent to p.
Statement-2: p ⁄ T ∫ p
Statement-1: [p ⁄ (q Ÿ r)] ⁄ [~ (p ⁄ q)]
∫ p ⁄ q is a tautology.
Statement-2: [p ⁄ q Æ r] ´ [~ r Æ (~ p) Ÿ
(~ q)] is a tautology.
25. Let p, q and r be three statements.
Statement-1: Negation of p Ÿ (q ⁄ r) is
~ p ⁄ (~ q Ÿ ~ r)
Statement-2: Negation of p ⁄ q is (~ p) Ÿ (~ q); and
that of p Ÿ q is (~ p) ⁄ (~ q)
 Previous Years' AIEEE/JEE Main Questions

1. The statement p Æ (q Æ p) is equivalent to 7. The negation of the statement

(a) p Æ (q ´ p) (b) p Æ (p Æ q) “If I become a teacher, then I will open a school”, is
(c) p Æ (p ⁄ q) (d) p Æ (p Ÿ q) [2008] (a) Either I will not become a teacher or I will not open
2. Let p be the statement “x is an irrational number”, q a school.
be the statement “y is a transcendental number”, and (b) Neither I will become a teacher nor I will open a
r be the statement “x is a rational number iff y is a school.
transcendental number”. (c) I will not become a teacher or I will open a school.
Statement-1: r is equivalent to either q or p. (d) I will become a teacher and I will not open a school.
[2012]
Statement-2: r is equivalent to ~ (p ´ ~ q).
8. Consider:
[2008]
Statement-1: (p Ÿ ~q) Ÿ (~p Ÿ q) is a fallacy
3. Statement-1: ~ (p ´ ~ q) is equivalent to p ´ q.
Statement-2: (p Æ q) ´ (~q Æ ~p) is a tautology.
Statement -2: ~ (p ´ ~ q) is tautology.
[2013]
[2009]
9. The statement p Æ (q Æ p) is equivalent to
4. Let S be a non-empty subset of R. Consider the fol-
(a) p Æ q (b) p Æ (p ⁄ q)
lowing statement :
(c) p Æ (p Æ q) (d) p Æ (p Ÿ q)
P : There is a rational number x ŒS such that [2013, online]
x > 0.
10. Let p and q be any two logical statements and r :
Which of the following statements is the negation of
p Æ (~p ⁄ q).
the statement P ?
(a) Every rational number x Œ S satisfies x £ 0. If r has a truth value F, the truth values of p and q
are respectively
(b) x ŒS and x < 0 fi x is not rational.
(a) F, F (b) T, T
(c) There is a rational number x Œ S such that x £ 0.
(c) T, F (d) F, T [2013, online]
(d) There is no rational number x such that x £ 0.
11. Statement-1: The statement A Æ (B Æ A) is equiva-
[2010]
lent to A Æ (A ⁄ B).
5. Consider the following statements
Statement-2: The statement ~[(A Ÿ B) Æ (~A ⁄ B)]
P : Suman is brilliant is a tautology. [2013, online]
Q : Suman is rich
12. For integers m and n, both greater than 1, consider
R : Suman is honest the following three statements:
The negation of the statement “Suman is brilliant
P : m divides n
and dishonest if and only if Suman is rich” can be
expressed as Q : m divides n2
(a) ~ (P Ÿ ~ R) ´ Q R : m is prime
(b) ~ P Ÿ (Q Ÿ ~ R)
(c) ~ (Q ´ (P Ÿ ~ R)) then
(d) ~ Q ´ ~ P Ÿ R [2011] (a) Q Ÿ R Æ P (b) P Ÿ Q Æ R
(c) Q Æ R (d) Q Æ P [2013, online]
6. The only statement among the followings that is a
tautology is 13. The statement ~(p ´ ~q) is
(a) A Ÿ (A ⁄ B) (a) equivalent to ~p ´ q (b) a tautology
(b) A ⁄ (A Ÿ B) (c) a fallacy (d) equivalent to p ´ q
[2014]
(c) [A Ÿ (A Æ B)] Æ B
(d) B Æ [A Ÿ (A Æ B)] [2011] 14. The contrapositive of the statement " if I am not feel-
ing well, then I will go to the doctor" is
 (a) If I am feeling well, then I will not go to the doctor O : Suman is rich
(b) If I will go to the doctor, then I am feeling well R : Suman is honest
(c) If I will not go to the doctor, then I am feeling well The negation of the statement,
(d) If I will go to the doctor, then I am not feeling well
"Suman is brilliant and dishonest if and only if Suman
[2014, online]
is rich" can be equivalently expressed as:
15. The proposition ~(p ⁄ ~q) ⁄ ~(p ⁄ q) is logically (a) ~ Q ´ P Ÿ R (b) ~ Q ´ ~ P ⁄ R
equivalent to (c) ~ Q ´ P ⁄ ~ R (d) ~ Q ´ P Ÿ ~ R
(a) p (b) q [2015, online]
(c) ~p (d) ~q [2014, online] 21. The Boolean Expression (p Ÿ –q) ⁄ q ⁄ (~p Ÿ q) is
16. Let p, q, r denote three arbitrary statements. The logi- equivalent to
cally equivalent of the statement p Æ (q ⁄ r) is (a) ~p Ÿ q (b) p Ÿ q
(a) (p Æ ~q) Ÿ (p Æ r) (b) (p Æ q) ⁄ (p Æ r) (c) p ⁄ q (d) p ⁄ ~q [2016]
(c) (p Æ q) Ÿ (p Æ ~r) (d) p ⁄ q Æ r 22. Consider the following two statements:
[2014, online] P: If 7 is an odd number, then 7 is divisible by 2
17. The contrapositive of the statement “I go to school if Q: If 7 is a prime number, then 7 is an odd number
it does not rain” is If V1 is the truth value of the contrapositive of P and
(a) if it rains, I do not go to school V2 is the truth value of contrapositive of Q, then the
(b) if I do not go to school, it rains ordered pair (V1, V2) equals:
(c) if it rains, I go to school (a) (F, F) (b) (F, T)
(d) if I go to school, it rains [2014, online] (c) (T, F) (d) (T, T) [2016, online]
18. The negation of ~ s ⁄ (~ r Ÿ s) is equivalent to: 23. The contrapositive of the following statement,
(a) s Ÿ ~ r (b) s Ÿ (r Ÿ ~) "If the side of a square doubles, then its area increases
(c) s ⁄ (r ⁄ ~ s) (d) s Ÿ r [2015] four times", is
19. Contrapositive of the statement “If it is raining then (a) if the area of a square increases four times, then its
I will not come”, is side is not doubled
(a) if I will come, then it is not raining (b) if the area of a square increases four times, then its
(b) if I will not come, then it is raining side is doubled
(c) if I will not come, then it is not raining (c) if the area of a square does not increase four times,
(d) if I will come, then it is raining [2015, online] then its side is not doubled
(d) if the side of a square is not doubled, then its area
20. Consider the following statements: does not increase four times [2016, online]
P : Suman is brilliant

Previous Years' B-Architecture Entrance

Examination Questions

1. The statement ~(p Ÿ q) ⁄ q: (c) (~ r Ÿ ~ s) Æ (~ p ⁄ ~ q)

(a) is a tautology (d) (r ⁄ s) Æ (~ p ⁄ ~ q) [2010]
(b) is equivalent to (p Ÿ q) ⁄ ~q 3. Statement-1:
(c) is equivalent to p ⁄ q
(d) is a contradiction [2009] ~ (A ¤ ~ B) is equivalent to A ¤ B.

2. The contrapositive of the statement, "If x is a prime Statement-2:

number and x divides ab then x divides a or x divides A ⁄ (~(A Ÿ ~ B)) a tautology. [2011]
b", can be symbolically represented using logical con-
nectives, on appropriately defined statements p, q, r, 4. Statement-1: Consider the statements
s, as p : Delhi is in India
(a) (~ r ⁄ ~ s) Æ (~ p Ÿ ~ q)
q : Mumbai is not in Italy
(b) (r Ÿ s) Æ (~ p Ÿ ~ q)
 Then the negation of the statement p ⁄ q, is Delhi is
not in India and Mumbai is in Italy.
Statement-2: For any two statements p and q
~(p ⁄ q) = ~p ⁄ ~q [2012]
5. If p is any logical statement, then
(a) p Ÿ(~p) is a tautology
(b) p ⁄(~p) is a contradiction
(c) p Ÿ p = p (d) p ⁄(~p) = p [2013]
6. Let p and q be any two propositions.
Statement-1: ( p Æ q) ´ q ⁄ ~p is a tautology.
Statement-2: ~(~p Ÿ q) Ÿ (p ⁄ q) ´ p is a fallacy.
(a) Both statements 1 and statements 2 are true
(b) Both statements 1 and statement 2 are false
(c) Statement 1 is true and statement 2 is false
(d) Statement 1 is false and statement 2 is true [2014]
7. The statement
[p Ÿ (p Æ q)] Æ q, is
(a) a fallacy
(b) a tautology
(c) neither a fallacy nor a tautology
(d) not a compound statement [2015]
8. The negation of A Æ (A ⁄ ~ B) is
(a) a tautology
(b) equivalent to (A ⁄ ~ B) Æ A
(c) equivalent to A Æ (A Ÿ ~ B)
(d) a fallacy [2016]
Concept-based
1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (a) 12. (a) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (c)
5. (d) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (a) 16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (d) 19. (a)
9. (c) 10. (a) 20. (b) 21. (c) 22. (b) 23. (a)

Level 1 Previous Years' B-Architecture Entrance

Examination Questions
11. (b) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (b)
15. (d) 16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (a) 1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (c)
19. (a) 20. (d) 21. (b) 22. (b) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (b) 8. (d)
23. (c) 24. (d) 25. (a)

Previous Years' AIEEE/JEE Main Questions

1. (c) 2. None of the answer matches 3. (c)
4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (c) 7. (d)
8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (c) 11. (c)

Heights & Distances

EXERCISE
Concept-based
Straight Objective Type Questions

1. A pole is standing at a point O between two mile- 50 cos a 50 sin a

stones at A and B such that the angles of elevation (a) (b)
cos a - sin a sin a - cos a
of the top of the pole at A and B are respectively a
and b. If the distance between the milestones is half 50 50
(c) (d)
the height of the pole then cos a - sin a cos a + sin a
(a) 2 sin (a + b) = sin a sin b 4. A pole 10 m high stands on a tower 30 m. high. The
(b) 2 sin (a + b) = cos a cos b angle of elevation of the top of the pole at a point A
(c) sin (a + b) = 2 sin a sin b on the ground in 45° and the pole subtends an angle
(d) sin (a + b) = 2 cos a cos b a at the same point A then a is equal to
2. OP is a tower of height 20 m and AB is a pole of (a) cot – 1 (1/7) (b) cot – 1 7
–1
height 5 m. The angle of elevation of the top P of (c) cos (1/7) (d) sin – 1 (1/7)
the tower from the top B of the pole is 45°. Both
with each side equal to 100 m.
pole and tower stand on the same ground. The angle
of elevation of the top P of the tower from the base 5. ABCD is a square field with each side equal to 100 m.
A of the pole is Two poles of equal heights stand at E, the mid point
3 3 of DC and at the corner B of the field, subtending
(a) cos-1 (b) sin -1 respectively angles a and 30° at the corner A of the
5 5
field. The value of a satisfies
3 4
(c) tan -1 (d) cot -1 11 15
4 3 (a) cos2 a = (b) sin2 a =
19 19
3. A circular path is 50 m. wide. The angle of elevation
of the top of a pole at the centre of the circular park 4 19
at a point on the inner circle is a and at a point on (c) tan2 a = (d) tan2 a =
19 15
the outer circle is 45°. The height of the pole is
 LEVEL 1

Straight Objective Type Questions

6. The angle of elevation of the top of an incomplete 13. An observer finds that the angular elevation of a tower
vertical pillar at a horizontal distance of 100 m from is A, on advancing 3 m towards the tower the elevation
its base is 45°. If the angle of elevation of the top of is 45° and on advancing 2 m nearer, the elevation is
the pillar after completion at the same point is 60°, 90° - A, the height of the tower is
then the height to be increased for the completion of (a) 1m (b) 5m
the pillar in metres is (c) 6m (d) 8m
(a) 50 3 (b) 100 2 14. ABC is a triangular park with all sides equal. If a pil-
(c) 100 3 (d) 100 ( 3 - 1) lar at A subtends an angle of 45° at C, the angle of
elevation of the pillar at D, the middle point of BC
7. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower at the
is
top and the foot of a pole 10 m high are 30° and 60°
respectively. The height of the tower is (
(a) tan-1 3 / 2 ) (
(b) tan-1 2 / 3 )
(a) 15 m (b) 20 m (c) cot-1 3 (d) tan-1 3
(c) 10 3 m (d) 25 3 m
15. A kite is flying with the string inclined at 75° to the
8. A tower subtends an angle a at a point A on the horizon. If the length of the string is 25 m, the height
ground, and the angle of depression of its foot from of the kite is
a point B just above A and at distance b from A, is b.
The height of the tower is (a) (25 / 2) ( 3 - 1)2 (b) (25 / 4) ( 3 + 1) 2
(a) b tan a tan b (b) b tan a cot b (c) (25 / 2) ( 3 + 1)2 (d) (25 / 2) ( 6 + 2 )
(c) b cot a cot b (d) b cot a tan b
9. A person walking along a straight road observes that 16. AB is a vertical pole. The end A is on the level ground,
at two points 1 km apart, the angles of elevation of C is the middle point of AB. P is a point on the level
a pole in front of him are 30° and 75°. The height of ground. The portion BC subtends an angle b at P. If
the pole is AP = n AB, then tan b =
n n
(a) 250 ( 3 + 1) m (b) 250 ( 3 - 1) m (a) 2
(b) 2
2 n +1 n -1
(c) 500 ( 2 + 1) m (d) 500 ( 2 - 1) m n
(c) 2
(d) none of these
10. If a flagstaff subtends the same angle at the points n +1
A, B, C and D on the horizontal plane through its 17. A man in a boat rowing away from a cliff 150 metres
foot, then ABCD is a high observes that it takes 2 minutes to change the
(a) square (b) cyclic quadrilateral angle of elevation of the top of the cliff from 60° to
(c) rectangle (d) none of these 45°. The speed of the boat is
11. From a point on the ground 100 m away from the (a) (1/2) (9 - 3 3 ) km/h
base of a building, the angle of elevation of the top
of the building is 60°. Which of the following is the (b) (1/2) (9 + 3 3 ) km/h
best approximation for the height of the building? (c) (1/2) (9 3 ) km/h
(a) 172 m (b) 173 m (d) none of these
(c) 174 m (d) 175 m
18. A person standing on the bank of a river observes that
12. From the top of a tower 100 m height, the angles
of depression of two objects 200 m apart on the the angle subtended by a tree on the opposite bank is
horizontal plane and in a line passing through the 60°, when he retires 40 metres from the banks he finds
foot of the tower and on the same side of the tower the angle to 30°. The breadth of the river is
are 45° - A and 45° + A, then angle A is equal to (a) 40 m (b) 60 m
(a) 15° (b) 22.5° (c) 20 m (d) 30 m
(c) 30° (d) 35°
19. The elevation of the top of a mountain at each of the (a) a cot a (b) b cot b
three angular points A, B and C of a plane horizontal a+b
triangle is a, if BC = a the height of the mountain is (c) (d) none of these
cot a + cot b
(a) (a/2) cosec A tan a (b) (a/2) sec A tan a
(c) (a/2) cosec a cot A (d) (a/2) sec a tan A 25. Three poles of height a, b, c stand on the same side of
a road and subtend an angle of 45° at a point on the
20. The angles of elevation of the top of a tower standing line joining their feet. The pole of height a subtends
on a horizontal plane, from two points on a line pass- an angle a at the foot of the pole of height b which
ing through its foot at distances a and b, respectively, subtends an angle b at the foot of the pole with height
are complementary angles. If the line joining the two c, if a > b > c, then cot a – cot b =
points subtends an angle q at the top of the tower,
then if a > b, sin q = ac - b2 bc - a 2
(a) (b)
a-b a+b ab ab
(a) (b)
a+b a-b ab - c 2 ac - b2
(c) (d)
2 ab 2 ab bc bc
(c) (d) 26. An aeroplane flying horizontally 1 km above the
a+b a-b
ground is observed at an elevation of 60°. If after 10
21. The upper three-quarters of a vertical pole subtends seconds, the elevation is observed to be 30°, then the
an angle tan-1 (3/5) at a point in the horizontal plane uniform speed of the aeroplane per hour is
through its foot and distant 40 m from it. The height (a) 120 km (b) 240 km
of the pole is
(c) 240 3 km (d) 240/ 3 km
(a) 80 m (b) 100 m
(c) 160 m (d) 200 m 27. If a flagstaff 6 metres high placed on the top of a
22. PQ is a vertical tower and A, B, C are three points tower throws a shadow of 2 3 metres along the
on a horizontal line through Q, the foot of the tower ground then the angle (in degrees) that the sun makes
and on the same side of the tower. If the angles of with the ground is
elevation of the top of the tower from A, B and C are
(a) 15° (b) 30°
a, b, g respectively, then AB/BC =
(c) 60° (d) tan–1 2 3
cot a - cot g cot a - cot b
(a) (b) 28. Three poles whose feet lie on a circle subtend angle
cot b - cot g cot b - cot g
a, b, g respectively at the centre of the circle. If the
cot a - cot b cot a - cot g height of the poles are in A.P. then cot a, cot b, cot g
(c) (d)
cot a - cot g cot a - cot b are in
23. ABCD is a rectangular park with AB = a. A tower (a) A.P. (b) G.P.
standing at C makes angles a and b at A and B re- (c) H.P. (d) none of these
spectively, the height of the tower is 29. A, B, C are three points on a vertical pole whose
distances from the foot of the pole are in A.P. and
a a whose angles of elevation at a point on the ground
(a) (b)
2 2
cot a + cot b cot a - cot 2 b
2 are a, b and g respectively. If a + b + g = p, then
tan a tan g is equal to
a tan a tan b a cot a cot b
(c) (d) (a) 3 (b) 2
2 2
tan b + tan a cot 2 a - cot 2 b (c) 1 (d) – 1
24. Two circular path of radii a and b intersect at a point 30. A ladder rests against a wall at an angle of 35°. Its foot
O and AB is a line through O meeting the circles at A is pulled away through a distance a, so that it slides
and B respectively. Chords OA and OB subtend equal a distance b down the wall, finally making an angle
angles of 60° at their respective centres. A vertical of 25° with the horizontal, then a/b =
pole at O subtends angles a and b respectively at A (a) 1 (b) 1/ 3
and B then height of the pole is
(c) 3 (d) 3 /2
 Assertion-Reason Type Questions
31. Statement-1: Three poles of height a, b, c stand at
the points A, B, C respectively and subtend the same
angle a at a point O on the horizontal line through
the feet of the poles. If a, b, c are in A.P., then AB
= BC.
Statement-2: O is the centre of a circular field and A
is any point on its boundary. Two poles standing at A
and O subtend the same angle a at a point B on the
other end of the diameter through A. Height of the
pole at A is twice the height of the plot at O.
32. Statement-1: Rajat observes that the angle of eleva-
tion of the top P of a tower OP at a point A on the
ground is a. He travels a distance a in the direction AP
and reaches the point B. He then travels a horizontal
distance a towards the tower and reaches the point C,
where the angle of elevation of the top of the tower
a (cos a + 1 - sin a )
is p /4, the height of the tower is
cot a - 1
Statement-2: On the top of building a pole of height
equal to 1/3 of the height of the building is placed
so that the angles of elevations of the top of the pole
and the top of the building at a point on the ground
are a and b respectively then a = (3/4)b.
LEVEL 2
Straight Objective Type Questions
36. The angle of elevation of the top Q of a tower PQ at
a point A on the horizontal plane through P the foot
of the tower is a. At a point B on AQ at a vertical
height of a, the angle of elevation of the middle point
R of the tower PQ is b, then the height of the tower
is
2a ( tan a - tan b ) 2a ( tan a - 2 tan b )
(a) (b)
tan a - 2 tan b tan a - tan b
2a ( tan a tan b - 1) 2a ( tan a cot b - 1)
(c) (d)
2 tan a cot b - 1 2 tan a cot b - 1
37. A lamppost stands in the centre of a circular garden
and makes angle a at points A and B on the bound-
ary where AB subtends an angle 2b at the foot of
the lamppost. If g is the angle which the lamppost
subtends at C, the middle point of the line joining A
and B, then tan g =
33. Statement-1: ABC is a triangular field with AC = b
and AB = c. A pole standing at a point D on BC
subtends angles a at B and b at C.
If BAD = DAC then b cot a = c cot b.
Statement-2: Bisector of an angle of a triangle
divides the opposite side in the ratio of the side
containing the angle.
34. Statement-1: The angle of elevation of the top P of a
tower OP at a point A on the ground is a, the angle
of elevation of the mid-point Q of the tower at the
mid-point B of OA is also a.
Statement-2: The line joining the mid-points of two
sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side.
35. Statement-1: A tower standing at the centre of a
square field subtends an angle a at each corner. If
the height of the tower is twice the length of a side
of the square, then a = tan–1 2.
Statement-2: A, B, C are three points on the horizon-
tal line through the foot of a tower and the angles of
elevation of the top of the tower at these points are
AB
30°, 45° and 60° respectively, = 3.
BC
(a) tan a tan b (b) sec a tan b
(c) tan a sec b (d) none of these
38. From a point on the ground, if the angles of eleva-
tion of a bird flying at constant speed in a horizontal
direction, measured at equal intervals of time are a,
b, g and d, then
(a) cot2 b – cot2 g = 3(cot2 a – cot2 d)
(b) cot2 b – cot2 d = 3(cot2 a – cot2 g)
(c) cot2 g – cot2 d = 3(cot2 a – cot2 b)
(d) cot2 a – cot2 d = 3(cot2 b – cot2 g)
39. A vertical tower standing at O has marks P, Q,
R, S at heights of 1m, 2m, 3m and 4m from
the foot O and A is a point on the horizontal
plane through O. If PQ and RS subtend angles
a and b respectively at A where OA = 2m then
cos (a + b) =
 (a) 5/ 26 (b) 24/ 650 (a) 17.56 m (b) 45.76 m
(c) 54.76 m (d) none of these
(c) 23/ 650 (d) 1/ 26
45. The angle of elevation of a stationary cloud from a
40. ABCD is a rectangular field with AB = a and BC = point 2500 metres above a lake is 15° and the angle
b. A lamp post of height h at A subtends an angle a of depression of its reflection in the lake is 45°. The
at P, the middle point of CD and another lamp post height of the cloud above the lake level is
of equal height at D subtends an angle b at Q, the
(a) 2500/ 3 m (b) 2500 m
middle point of BC. If PQ subtends an angle q at A,
then cot2 a cot2 b cos2 q = k2, where k = (c) 2500 3 m (d) 5000 3 m
(a) (a2 + b2)/2h2 (b) (a2 – b2)/2h2
2 2 2 46. A tower PQ stands at a point P with in the triangular
(c) 2h /(a + b ) (d) 2(a2 + b2)h2
park ABC such that the sides a, b, c of the triangle
41. A vertical tower OP of height h subtends angle a, b, subtend equal angles at P, the foot of the tower and
g respectively at the points A, B, C on the horizontal the tower subtends angles a, b, g at A, B, C respec-
plane through the foot O of the tower. A is due west tively, then a2 (cot b –cot g) + b2(cot g – cot a) + c2
of the tower. B is due east of A and on the same side (cot a – cot b ) is equal to
of the tower as A. C is due south of B, then AC = (a) – 1 (b) 0
(a) h(cot a – cot b) (c) 1 (d) a + b + c
(b) h cot 2 g - cot 2 b 47. A spherical balloon subtends an angle 2a at a man’s
eye and the elevation of its centre is b. If q is the
(c) h cot 2 a + cot 2 g - 2 cot a cot b elevation of the highest point of the balloon at A then
tan q is equal to
(d) h cot 2 g + cot 2 b - 2 cot a cot b
sin a + cos b sin a + sin b
(a) (b)
42. PQ and RS are two vertical towers of the same height sin b cos b
where S is on the ground Q is above the ground. The
line joining the top P and the foot S of the two tow- sin a + cos b sin a + sin b
(c) (d)
ers meets the horizontal line through Q at a point A sin a cos a
where the angles of elevation of the tops P and R of 48. A person stands at a point A due south of a tower
the two towers are a and b respectively. If AS = a, and observes that its elevation is 60°. He then walks
the height of the towers is westwards towards B, where the elevation is 45°. At a
a sin ( b + a ) a cos ( b + a ) point C on AB produced, he finds it to be 30°. Then
(a) (b) AB/BC is equal to
cos b cos b
(a) 1/2 (b) 1
a sin ( b + a ) a cos ( b + a ) (c) 2 (d) 5/2
(c) (d)
sin b sin b 49. A pole stands at a point A on the boundary of a
43. From the top of a building of height h, a tower stand- circular park of radius a and subtends an angle a
ing on the ground is observed to make an angle q. If at another point B on the boundary. If the chord AB
the horizontal distance between the building and the subtends an angle a at the centre of the path, the
tower is h, the height of the tower is height of the pole is
2h cos q 2h (a) 2a cos (a/2) tan a (b) 2a sin (a/2) cot a
(a) (b) (c) 2a sin (a/2) tan a (d) 2a cos (a/2) cot a
sin q + cos q 1 + cot q
50. A, B, C are three points on a horizontal line through
2h 2h the base O of a pillar OP, such that OA, OB, OC are
(c) (d)
1 + tan q sin q + cos q in A.P. If a, b, g the angles of elevation of the top
of the pillar at A, B, C respectively are also in A.P.
44. A tower stands at the foot of a hill whose inclination then sin a, sin b, sin g are in
to the horizon is 9°; at a point 40 m up the hill the
(a) A.P. (b) G.P.
tower subtends an angle of 54°. The height of the
(c) H.P. (d) none of these
tower is
 Previous Years' AIEEE/JEE Main Questions

1. The upper 3/4th portion of a vertical pole subtends changes to b. Then the height (in meters) of the tower is:
an angle tan–1 (3/5) at a point in the horizontal plane 2 sin a sin b sin a sin b
through its foot and at a distance 40 m from the foot. (a) (b)
sin ( b - a ) cos ( b - a )
A possible height of the vertical pole is
(a) 40 m (b) 60 m 2 sin ( b - a ) cos ( b - a )
(c) (d)
(c) 80 m (d) 20 m [2003] sin a sin b sin a sin b
2. A person standing on the bank of a river observe that
the angle of elevation of the top of a tree on the op- [2014, online]
posite bank of the river is 60º and when he retires 40 7. If the angles of elevation of the top of a tower from
m away from the tree the angle of elevation becomes three collinear points A, B and C, on a line leading to
30º. The breadth of the river is the foot of the tower, art 30°, 45° and 60° respectively,
(a) 40 m (b) 30 m then the ration AB: BC, is:
(c) 20 m (d) 60 m [2004] (a) 3 :1 (b) 3: 2
3. A tower stands at the centre of a circular park. A and
B are two points on the boundary of the park such (c) 1 : 3 (d) 2 : 3 [2015]
that AB (= a) subtends an angle of 60º at the foot of 8. Let 10 vertical poles standing at equal distances on a
the tower and the angle of elevation of the top of the straight line, subtend the same angle of elevation a
tower from A or B is 30º. The height of the tower is at a point O on this line and all the poles are on the
(a) 2a / 3 (b) 2a 3 same side of O. If the height of the longest pole is
'h' and the distance of the foot of the smallest pole
(c) a / 3 (d) a 3 [2007]
from O is 'a' then the distance between two consecu-
4. AB is a vertical pole with B at the ground level and tive poles, is:
A at the top. A man finds that the angle of elevation
h sin a + a cos a h cos a - a sin a
of the point A from a certain point C on the ground is (a) (b)
60°. He moves away from the pole along the line BC 9 sin a 9 cos a
to a point D such that CD = 7m. From D the angle h cos a - a sin a
of elevation of the point A is 45°. Then the height of (c) (d) h sin a + a cos a
9 sin a 9 cos a
the pole is
[2014, online]
7 3 1 7 3 1
(a) . m. (b) . m. 9. A man is walking towards a vertical pillar in a straight
2 3 +1 2 3 -1 path, at a uniform speed. At a certain point A on the
7 3 7 3 path, he observes that the angle of elevation of the
(c)
2
. ( )
3 + 1 m. (d)
2
. ( )
3 - 1 m. top of the pillar is 30°. After walking for 10 minutes
from A in the same direction, at a point B, he observes
[2008]
that the angle of elevation of the top of the pillar is
5. A bird is sitting on the top of a vertical pole 20 m 60°. Then the time taken (in minutes) by him, from
high and its elevation from a point O on the ground B to reach the pillar is
is 45°. It flies off horizontally straight away from the (a) 6 (b) 10
point O. After one second, the elevation of the bird (c) 20 (d) 5 [2016]
from O is reduced to 30°. Then the speed (in m/s) of
10. The angle of elevation of the top of a vertical tower
the bird is
from a point A, due east of it is 45°. The angle of
(a) 40 ( 2 - 1) (b) 40 ( 3 - 2 ) elevation of the top of the same tower from a point
(c) 20 2 (d) 20 ( 3 - 1) [2014] B, due south of A is 30°. If the distance between A
6. The angle of elevation of the top of a vertical tower and B is 54 2 m, then the height of the tower (in
from a point P on the horizontal ground was observed meters) is;
to be a. After moving a distance 2 meters from P (a) 108 (b) 36 3
towards the foot of the tower, the angle of elevation (c) 54 3 (d) 54 [2016, online]
Heights&Distances

Concept-based
1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (b) 44. (b) 45. (c) 46. (b) 47. (b)
5. (a) 48. (b) 49. (c) 50. (b)
Level 1 Previous Years' AIEEE/JEE Main Questions
6. (d) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (a) 1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (c)
10. (b) 11. (b) 12. (b) 13. (c) 5. (d) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (c)
14. (b) 15. (b) 16. (a) 17. (a) 9. (d) 10. (d)
18. (c) 19. (a) 20. (a) 21. (c)
22. (b) 23. (b) 24. (c) 25. (a)
26. (c) 27. (c) 28. (c) 29. (a)
30. (b) 31. (b) 32. (c) 33. (a)
34. (a) 35. (d)
Level 2
36. (a) 37. (c) 38. (d) 39. (c)
40. (a) 41. (c) 42. (a) 43. (b)