ANGLE OF ELEVATION AND ANGLE OF DEPRESSION

The angle of elevation is the angle formed between the horizontal line in the imaginary line
of site which is above the horizontal line.

The angle of depression is the angle formed between the horizontal line in the imaginary line
of sight which is below the horizontal line.

PATTERN IN SOLVING PROBLEMS:

1. Read the problem carefully and analyze what is to be done.
2. Sketch the triangle that is described in the problem.
3. Assign values for the known and unknown quantities.
4. Express the desired side or angle in terms of unknown trigonometric retios.
5. Solve the Problem.

1. A car is seen from the top of a building 50m from the ground. If the car is 20m from
the building, what is the angle of depression of the car from the building?
SOLUTION:
2. A man who is 2m tall stands on horizontal ground. If he is 50m from the cliff the angle
of elevation of the top of the cliff from his eyes is 20°. Find the height of cliff.
SOLUTION:

(ECE April 1998) Points A and B 1000m apart are plotted on a straight highway
running East and West. From A, the bearing of a tower C is 32 degrees N of W and
from B the bearing C is 26 degrees N of E. Approximate the distance of tower C to the
highway

(CE Nov. 1997) Points A and B are 100m apart and are on the same elevation as the
foot of a building. The angles affiliation of the top of the building frlm points A and B
are 21° and 32° respectively. How far is A from the building?