MCR3U

5.8 - Solving 3-D Problems with Trigonometry

EXAMPLE 1
Determine the lengths of a and b.

b D

77

a 8m

93
54

A 6m B
EXAMPLE 2
A river has a vertical cliff along one shore and a beach along the other. Jimmy
and Suzie are standing 25 m apart on the beach and are trying to determine
the height of the cliff on the other side of the river. Using a clinometer,
Jimmy measures the angle of elevation from where he’s standing to the top
of the cliff to be 41. From where Suzie is standing, she measures the angle
from Jimmy to the base of the cliff, directly across from him, is 70.
Determine the height of the cliff.

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EXAMPLE 3
In order to measure the height of a mountain top, point A, Tim sets up his
transit at point B and measures two angles. He then sets up his transit at
point C and measures the horizontal and vertical angles. He then measures
the distance from point B to point C to be 250 m. What is the height of the
mountain AD?

39 D