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Mathematics
Quarter 4 – Module 3
Week 3 - 4
Angles of Elevation and Angles of Depression

Ronald C. Jolaton, Writer

Teacher III, Balingasay National High School
 What I Know

Let us determine how much you already know about angles of elevation and angles of
depression. If you answer all the test items correctly in this pretest, then you may skip
studying this learning material and proceed to the next learning module.

1. This is the angle formed between the horizontal line and the imaginary line of sight from
the eye of the observer to the object being observed above.
A. Angle of Depression C. Angle of Elevation
B. Angle of Devaluation D. Angle of Promotion

2. This is the angle formed between the horizontal and the imaginary line of sight from
the eye of the observer to the object being observed below.
A. Angle of Depression C. Angle of Elevation
B. Angle of Devaluation D. Angle of Promotion

3. The figure below shows the relationship of angles of elevation and angles of depression.
They represent which angle pair formed by parallel lines cut by a transversal. See figure
below.
A. Alternate exterior angles C. Corresponding angles
B. Alternate interior angles D. Vertical angles

Angle of depression

Angle of elevation

4. “From the top of a building, the angle of depression of a parked car is found to be 300.
If the height of the building is 25 meters, how far (d) is the car from the foot of the
building?” Which of the following trigonometric ratios could be the first statement
of the solution to the problem?
25 25
A. sin 300 = C. tan 300 =
𝑑 𝑑
25 𝑑
B. cos 300 = D. tan 300 =
𝑑 25

5. Based on the figure below, what is the measure of the angle of elevation of the top
of the building?

180 180
A. 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 ( ) C. 𝑐𝑜𝑡 −1 ( )
200 200
180 feet

180 9
B. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (200) D. 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (10)
200 feet
6. Illustrate the following: The angle of elevation of the top of the building from a point
32 meters away from the building is 540.

A. C.
320

540
54 m 32 m
B.
D.

32 m

320 540
54 m

7. From the top of a cliff which rises vertically 34.5 meters above the riverbank, the
angle of depression of the opposite bank is 300 45’. How wide is the river?
A. 58 m B. 67.5 m C. 40.1m D. 20.5 m

8. From a point on the level ground 124 feet from the foot of the building, the angle of
elevation of the top of the building is 45030’. How tall is the building?
A. 86.8 feet B. 88.6 feet C. 126.2 feet D. 121.5 feet

9. From the extremity of the shadow cast by a tower, the angle of elevation of the top
is 60030’. If the shadow is 98 feet long, how far is it from the top of the tower to the
extremity of the shadow?
A. 72.42 feet B. 173.21 feet C. 85.29 feet D. 199.02 feet

10. A television antenna is on the roof of a building. From a point on the ground 48
feet from the building the angles of elevation of the top and bottom of the antenna
are 64032’ and 45036’, respectively. Find the length of the antenna?
A. 67.45 feet B. 51.77 feet C. 76.51 feet D. 45.67 f
 Lesson Angles of Elevation and
1 Angles of Depression

What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to introduce to you
the concepts about angles of elevation and angles of depression. Furthermore, it helps
you figure out the methods in solving problems involving angles of elevation and angles
of depression, applying the trigonometric ratios for right triangles. The scope of this
module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The arrangement of
the lessons follows the standard sequence of the course. But the pacing in which you
read and answer this module is dependent on your ability.

The most essential learning competency aligned in this module is:

1. Illustrates angles of elevation and angles of depression. (M9GEIVd-1)

Primarily, the scope of this module is to develop your skills in solving problems involving angles
of elevation and angles of depression. At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:

1. identify the measures of angles of elevation or angles of depression;

2. represent situations involving angles of elevation/depression with proper figures and

working equations; and

3. solve problems involving angles of elevation and depression.

WHAT’S IN
In your previous modules, the six trigonometric ratios have been introduced to you.
They are namely: sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant and cosecant. The knowledge and
skills you acquired are essential for you to have a deeper perspective about our preceding
topic. For now, let us have a brief recall about these six trigonometric ratios.

Activity 1. Refresh Yourselves!

Identify the trigonometric ratio of the given trigonometric functions below using the right
triangle. The first one is done for you.
I.

5 B
sin A = 6. sin B =
13

1. cos A = 7. cos B = 13

2. tan A = 5
8. tan B =
3. cot A = 9. cot B = A
C
4. sec A = 12
10. sec B =
5. csc A =
11. csc B =

1
II.

3
sin α = 17. sin β = α
5

12. cos α = 18. cos β =

13. tan α = 19. tan β =
14. cot α = 4 5
20. cot β =
15. sec α = 21. sec β =
16. csc α = 22. csc β =
β
3

Activity 2. Digital Rise!

Direction: Using your scientific calculator, identify the value of the primary trigonometric
functions of the given angles.

Trigonometric Angle
Functions 300 420 600 72034’ 54028’30”
sin
cos
tan

Activity 3. We are the same!

Below are parallel lines cut by a transversal. Name the Alternate Interior Angles in each of the
following figures and identify the measure of one of the pairs of Alternate Interior Angles. The
first one is done for you.
Measure Measure
Alternate of the of the
Figure transversal
Interior Angles first second
angle angle
1.

∠𝑫𝑨𝑩 𝒂𝒏𝒅 ∠𝑪𝑩𝑨 ̅̅̅̅

𝐴𝐵 300 300

2.

420

3.

280

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 What’s New
At this point of the module, you are about to learn the concepts of angle of elevation and angle
of depression. Study the following definitions.

DEFINITION

Line of sight – is an imaginary line that

connects the eye of an observer to the
object being observed.

Angle of Elevation – the angle

between the horizontal and a
line of sight above the
horizontal.

Angle of Depression – the

angle between the
horizontal and a line of
sight below the horizontal.

A clinometer is a tool used

to measure the angle of
elevation or angle of
depression of an object.

Image source: https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1350629/how-do-i-properly-read-a-clinometer

For better understanding of the concept, you will have to perform the simple activity below.

Activity 4. What am I?
Identify the segment that represents the line of sight and the angles (if any) that represent the
angle of elevation or angle of depression. The first one is done for you.

Angle of Angle of Line of

Figure Horizontal
Elevation Depression Sight
1.

∠𝑩𝑪𝑨 ̅̅̅̅
𝑪𝑩 ̅̅̅̅
𝑪𝑨

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2.

3. R O

A
4.

D
https://www.google.com/search?q=man+surv
eying&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiV35CusYXwA
hWSx4sBHS1YDfYQ2-g&ei
5.

J L

How did you find Activity 4? You have just discovered the difference between angle of
elevation and angle of depression and their parts based on the figures. In the preceding part
of this module, you will learn to solve problems involving angles of elevation and angles of
depression.

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 What Is It
Solve the following problems with the aid of a scientific calculator.
1. From a point on the level ground 64 meters away from a Globe telecom tower, the angle
of elevation of the top of the tower is seen to be 350. How tall is the tower?
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation

tower

350
64m
Step 2: Use trigonometry of right triangles to find what is asked.
Let h be the height of the tower
ℎ
tan 350 = 64

ℎ h
0.7002 =
64

350
0.7002 (64) = h
64

44.81 = h

Thus, the height of the tower is 44.81 meters.

2. From the top of Cape Bolinao Lighthouse 351 feet above the sea level, the angle of
depression of an anchored ship is observed to be 10035’, how far is the ship from the
lighthouse?
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation
100 35’

351 feet

d
Step 2: Use trigonometry of right triangles to find what is asked.
Let d be the distance between the ship and the lighthouse
By applying alternate interior angles theorem, we can show that the two
angles are congruent as shown below:
So, 100 35’
351
tan 10035’ = 𝑑
351
351
0.1868 =
𝑑

d=
351 100 35’
0.1868
d = 1879.0 d
Thus, the distance (d) between the lighthouse and the ship is 1879.0 feet
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 3. The angle of elevation to the top of a building from a point on the level ground is 600,
while from a point 110 feet farther from the building is 540. How tall is the building?
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation

540 600
110 feet

Step 2: Use trigonometry of right triangles to find what is asked.

Let H be the height of the building; and
x be the distance between the building and the first position

First, consider the triangle that involves the 600 angle:

H
𝐻
tan 600 =
𝑥
540 600
𝐻 110 x
1.7321 = 𝑥

1.7321x = H ……………….equation 1

Then, consider the triangle that involves the 540 angle:

𝐻
tan 540 = 𝑥+110

1.3764 (x + 110) = H ……….equation 2

We know that from equations 1 and 2, H = H, thus, we can state that

H = H, and by substitution, we get
1.7321x = 1.3764 (x + 110)
1.7321x = 1.3764x + 1.3763(110)
1.7321x = 1.3764x + 151.393
1.7321x - 1.3764x = 151.393
0.3557x = 151.393
x = 425.62

Substitute the value of x in equation 1 to solve for H:

1.7321x = H
1.7321(425.62) = H
737.22 = H

Therefore, the building is 737.22 feet high.

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 4. A 20-feet flagpole casts a shadow of 24-feet. What is the angle of elevation β of the
sun?
Solution:
Step 1: Draw a sketch of the situation

20 feet

β
24 feet
Solution:
Step 2: Use trigonometry of right triangles to find what is asked.
20
tan β =
24

20
β = tan-1 (24) 20

β = 39.810 or 39048’ β
24

The angle of elevation of the sun is 39.810 or 39048’

What’s More
Now, it’s your turn to apply the concepts of angles of elevation and angles of depression by
solving the word problems below.

1. A building casts a shadow of 56 meters long when the angle of elevation of the sun is
320. How tall is the building?
2. From the top of a cliff 48 feet high above the water level of the river, an observer found
the angle of depression of the opposite bank to be 44º. How wide is the river to the
nearest tenth of a foot?
3. From a point 72 meters away from the foot of a building, the top of the building is
measured as 36025’. How tall is the building?
4. An engineer needed to measure the height of a cell tower. From a certain point on the
level ground, he found that the measure of angle of elevation of the top of the tower is
520. He then walked 50 meters farther and found that the angle of elevation of the top
is 300. How tall is the tower to the nearest tenth of a meter? (See figure below)

300 540
100 m

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5. From the top of Cape Bolinao Lighthouse 351 feet above sea level, the angle of
depression of a barge and a boat on the sea 10042’ and 14030’, respectively. How far is
the barge from the boat?

What I Have Learned

Great! You have reached this part of the lesson. To ensure your full understanding on the
concepts related to angles of elevation and depression, answer the following questions on your
lecture notes.
1. Differentiate angle of elevation and angle of depression.
2. When solving problems involving angles of elevation, if the horizontal distance from the
object being observed and the measure of the angle of elevation are known, what
trigonometric function is best used to solve the vertical distance (or height) of the
object?
3. In solving problems involving angles of depression, if the vertical distance between the
observer and the object being observed and the measure of the angle of depression are
given, what trigonometric function is best used to solve the horizontal distance of the
object from the observer?
4. If you are going to measure the height of a skyscraper or a tower, you don’t need to
climb up to its top and measure its height using a tape measure. By applying
concepts on angle of elevation and trigonometry of right triangle, you can do the job
easier. Supposed you are tasked to measure the height of a skyscraper and from a
certain point, you measured the angle of elevation of its top to be 10030’. You then
walked 100 meters closer then measured the angle of elevation of its top again and
you found it to be 15045’. Set up the two equations you need to solve the height of the
tower.

What I can Do
In the previous activities, you gained understanding on the angle of elevation and
angle of depression. To perform a simple mathematical investigation, perform the task
below.
Objective: Measure the height of an object by applying concepts on trigonometric
ratios and angle of elevation
Materials:
Tape measure, scientific calculator, paper and pen

Directions: Ask a family member or a friend to assist you on this activity.

Procedure:
1. Measure the height of a family member.
2. Measure the length of his/her shadow.
3. Using what you know about trigonometric ratios, determine the angle of
elevation of the sun (Sketch a picture of the situation that will help in your
computation)
4. Find an object you want to compute the height (e. g. a tree, a flagpole or an
electric post).
5. Measure the length of the shadow of the object.
6. Using the angle of elevation and the length of the shadow of the object, use
what you know about angle of elevation and trigonometric ratios to find the
height of the object. (Sketch a picture of the situation that will help you in
your computation.)
7. Write your findings on your lecture notes.

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 Assessment

Let us determine how much you have learned from this module. Read and understand each
item, then choose the letter of your answer and write it on your answer sheet.

1. The angle 350 is an angle of ___________.

A. depression C. inclination
B. elevation D. escalation

350

2. To compute for the height of a flagpole given the length of its shadow and the angle
of elevation of the sun, what trigonometric function is best used?
A. cos C. cot
B. sin D. tan

3. From the observation deck of a lighthouse, a boat and a barge have angles of
depression of 34010’ and 10024’, respectively. Which is farther from the observer?
A. the barge C. the lighthouse
B. the boat D. the rock

4. With the sun, a girl 1.3 meters tall casts a 3.2-meter shadow. Set up the equation
to find the angle of elevation of the sun.
1.3 1.3
A. cos-1(3.2) C. sin-1(3.2)

3.2 1.3
B. sin-1(1.3) D. tan-1(3.2)

5. The angle of elevation of the top of a cell tower is 33 0. If it casts a shadow of 58

meters, how tall is the tower?
A. 31.6 m C. 48.6 m
B. 37.7 m D. 89.3 m

6. From the top of a cliff which rises vertically 36 meters above the riverbank, the angle
of depression of the opposite bank is 320. How wide is the river, to the nearest tenth
of a meter?
A. 57.6 C. 22. 5
B. 42.5 D. 67.9

7. From the extremity of the shadow cast by a building, the angle of elevation of the top
is 600. If the shadow is 121 feet long, how tall is the building?
A. 104.8 feet C. 209.6 feet
B. 60.5 feet D. 242 feet

8. From the top of a building 75 meters high, the angles of depression of two points A
and B on the ground were found to be 34023’ and 28036’. Find the distance between
A and B.
A. 137.6 meters C. 109.6 meters
B. 247.2 meters D. 28 meters

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 9. An engineer found the angle of elevation of the top of a commercial building to be
24032’. After walking 120 feet toward the building, he found the angle of elevation to
be 48024’. How high is the commercial building?
A. 92.1 feet C. 81.8 feet
B. 54.8 feet D. 13.5 feet

10. From a window 14 meters above the level ground, a building 24 meters high and
at a distance of 21 meters is observed. Find the angle of elevation of the top of the
building and the angle of depression of its base.
A. 28026’ & 41049’ C. 61034 & 41034’
B. 25 28’ & 33 41’
0 0 D. None of these

Additional Activities

Before we end this module, you will use your knowledge and skills gained in many
situations in life to better appreciate what you have learned. Try this!

The diagram below shows two structures situated on the opposite sides of a 225-
meter observation tower. Structure A and structure B have 25035’ and 28034’ angles of
depression, respectively. How far the two structures are from each other, in nearest
tenth of a meter?

25035’ 28034’

Structure A Structure B

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Answers Key

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 References
Oronce, Orlando and Mendoza, Marilyn (2007). E-math III Geometry First Edition.
Quezon City. Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Romero, Karl Freidrich Jose D. (2003). Geometry in the Real World. Makati City.
Salesiana Publishers, Inc.

Internet

https://mathisfunwitherxleben.weebly.com/uploads/8/5/9/0/85902484/p
arallelogram_textbook_pages.pdf

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